Loduca
An Italian surname derived from the phrase "lo duca" meaning "the duke" or leader.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 480 Americans carry the last name Loduca. That puts it at #50,196 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.14 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 714,072 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Loduca surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
480
1 in 714,072
Census rank
#50,196
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
417
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 417 bearers of the surname Loduca in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.14 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 50196th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Loduca, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Loduca
The surname LODUCA has its origins in Italy, tracing back to the 15th century. It is believed to derive from the Italian word "loduca," meaning a type of cloak or mantle worn during that era. This suggests the name may have been an occupational surname for someone involved in the textile or clothing trade.
Records from the town of Lucca in Tuscany show the earliest known examples of the LODUCA name in the late 1400s. It is possible the name originated in this region, as Lucca was a prominent center for silk and wool production during the Renaissance period.
By the 16th century, variations of the LODUCA spelling, such as Loducca and Loduchhi, can be found in historical documents across northern and central Italy. This indicates the name had begun to spread and establish itself in various Italian communities.
One notable early bearer of the LODUCA name was Giovanni Battista Loduca, a merchant from Genoa who lived from 1510 to 1585. He is recorded as having established trade routes between Italy and the Ottoman Empire, dealing in silk and spices.
In the 17th century, the LODUCA name appears in records from the city of Naples, where a family of architects and builders bearing the surname were responsible for the construction of several churches and palaces. Antonio Loduca (1632-1704) was a renowned architect who designed the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Sanità in Naples.
As the LODUCA name spread across Italy, it also found its way into other parts of Europe. In the 18th century, a branch of the family settled in Spain, where the name was sometimes spelled Loduca or Loduca y Gonzalez. Juan Loduca y Gonzalez (1745-1821) was a Spanish military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars.
Another notable bearer of the LODUCA name was Maria Loduca (1856-1936), an Italian playwright and feminist activist. She was a prominent figure in the early women's rights movement in Italy and campaigned for educational and legal reforms.
While the LODUCA name maintains its roots in Italy, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the textile and clothing trades of 15th century Italy, where it emerged as a distinctive surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Loduca
Among Census respondents with the surname Loduca, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Loduca bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Loduca surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.3%
- Hispanic or Latino5.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.4%
- Unknown or suppressed1.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Loduca surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #50,468 | #50,196 | 0.5% |
| Count | 389 | 417 | 7.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Loduca bearers went from 389 to 417 (+7.2% change). The surname moved up 272 positions in the national ranking, going from #50,468 to #50,196.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Loduca
FAQ
Loduca surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Loduca?
The surname Loduca holds position #50,196 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 480 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.14 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Loduca surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Loduca, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.