Find out how popular the last name Lettieri is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Lettieri.

Lettieri, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Lettieri surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lettieri in America

Lettieri is the 22608th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lettieri surname appeared 1,136 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Lettieri.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lettieri to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Lettieri

The surname Lettieri has its origins in Italy, specifically in the southern regions of the country. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, between the 10th and 13th centuries. The name is derived from the Italian word "lettera," which means "letter" or "literacy," suggesting a possible connection to scribes, scholars, or those involved in the written word.

Lettieri is thought to have originated as a descriptive surname, given to individuals who possessed the skill of reading and writing, which was a rare and valuable trait during that era. It may have also been used to distinguish literate individuals from the illiterate population.

Historically, the name appears in various medieval records and documents from the regions of Campania, Calabria, and Sicily. One notable early reference can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis, a collection of charters and documents from the Cava de' Tirreni monastery in Campania, dating back to the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lettieri is found in the Sicilian town of Caltanissetta, where a certain Guglielmo Lettieri is mentioned in a document from the year 1250. Additionally, there is a record of a Niccolò Lettieri in Naples, who lived in the late 15th century and was a renowned scribe and calligrapher.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Lettieri have made significant contributions in various fields. One notable figure is Antonio Lettieri (1642-1719), an Italian architect and engineer who designed several churches and palaces in Naples and its surrounding areas.

Another prominent individual was Gian Domenico Lettieri (1720-1796), an Italian painter and engraver from Naples, known for his religious artworks and portraiture.

In the literary realm, Giuseppe Lettieri (1856-1928) was an Italian poet and playwright from Salerno, celebrated for his poetic works and theatrical plays that captured the essence of southern Italian culture.

The name Lettieri has also been associated with notable places and locations. For instance, the town of Lettere, located in the province of Naples, is believed to have derived its name from the surname, suggesting the presence of a prominent Lettieri family or individuals in the area during its founding.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning the Lettieri family from Sardinia, which has produced several notable figures throughout history, including Antonio Lettieri (1935-1975), an Italian actor known for his roles in American films such as The Godfather and The Getaway.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lettieri

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Lettieri.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Lettieri was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Lettieri has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Lettieri was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Lettieri, please contact us.

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