2000
#146,011
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 104
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Ladra
An Italian surname possibly derived from the Italian word 'ladro', meaning thief.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 133 Americans carry the last name Ladra. That puts it at #145,028 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,577,100 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ladra surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
133
1 in 2,577,100
Census rank
#145,028
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
116
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 116 bearers of the surname Ladra in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 145028th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ladra, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.9%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (31.9%) and Two or More Races (3.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ladra
The surname "LADRA" originated in Italy during the medieval period, likely derived from the Italian word "ladro," meaning "thief" or "robber." This occupational surname was likely given to individuals who engaged in stealing or robbery, perhaps as a form of mockery or to identify their profession.
The earliest known record of the surname "LADRA" can be found in the archives of the city of Genoa, dating back to the 13th century. In a document from 1278, a certain "Giovanni Ladra" is mentioned as a witness in a legal dispute over property ownership.
During the Renaissance, the name "LADRA" appeared in several historical records across northern Italy. In 1456, a merchant named "Antonio Ladra" from Milan is recorded as having traded goods with Venetian merchants, indicating the family's involvement in commerce.
In the 16th century, the "LADRA" surname gained notoriety due to a famous Italian poet and playwright named Giambattista Ladra (1522-1590). Born in Verona, he authored several comedic plays that satirized the societal norms of his time, earning him both acclaim and criticism.
In the late 17th century, a prominent military figure named Carlo Ladra (1645-1721) emerged from the town of Parma. He served as a captain in the Papal armies and played a crucial role in defending the Papal States against foreign invasions.
Another notable figure with the "LADRA" surname was Lucrezia Ladra (1780-1854), a renowned opera singer from Naples. Her exceptional vocal talents earned her praise throughout Europe, and she performed in many of the major opera houses of her time.
During the 19th century, the "LADRA" surname spread beyond Italy, with some families migrating to other parts of Europe and the Americas. One of the earliest documented instances of the name in the United States is that of Vincenzo Ladra (1812-1892), who settled in New York City and established a successful textile business.
While the surname "LADRA" originated from humble beginnings, it has since been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including artists, merchants, military leaders, and entrepreneurs. Despite its somewhat dubious initial meaning, the name has endured and become a part of Italy's rich cultural heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ladra
Among Census respondents with the surname Ladra, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.9%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (31.9%) and Two or More Races (3.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Ladra bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Ladra surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White62.9% · 73
- Asian and Pacific Islander31.9% · 37
- Two or more races3.4% · 4
- Black or African American1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ladra
Ladra appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#158,432
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
-2 bearers (-1.9%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 12,421 places
2020
#145,028
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
+14 bearers (+13.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 13,404 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #146,011 | 104 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #158,432 | 102 | 0.03 | -2 bearers (-1.9%) | Down 12,421 places |
| 2020 | #145,028 | 116 | 0.04 | +14 bearers (+13.7%) | Up 13,404 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Ladra surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #158,432 | #145,028 | 8.5% |
| Count | 102 | 116 | 13.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 29.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Ladra bearers went from 102 to 116 (+13.7% change). The surname moved up 13,404 positions in the national ranking, going from #158,432 to #145,028.
FAQ
Ladra surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ladra?
Name Census estimates that about 133 living Americans carry the surname Ladra. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,577,100 residents.
How common is Ladra?
Ladra ranks #145,028 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 116 people with the surname Ladra. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (133), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Ladra.
Has Ladra become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Ladra went from 102 recorded bearers to 116. That is an increase of 14 (+13.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #158,432 to #145,028.
What does the Census say about the background of Ladra?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ladra, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.9%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (31.9%) and Two or More Races (3.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Ladra in the 2020 Census, accounting for 62.9% (73 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ladra appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (62.9%), Asian/Pacific Islander (31.9%), Two or More Races (3.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Ladra (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Ladra mean?
An Italian surname possibly derived from the Italian word 'ladro', meaning thief. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Ladra (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Ladra?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.