Luciano
An Italian surname derived from the Latin name Lucianus, meaning "light" or "illumination."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 11,894 Americans carry the last name Luciano. That puts it at #3,486 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.47 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 28,817 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Luciano 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
12K
1 in 28,817
Census rank
#3,486
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
10K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 10,247 bearers of the surname Luciano in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.47 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3486th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Luciano, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 55.5%. The next largest groups are White (39.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Luciano
The surname Luciano originates from Italy and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Latin name Lucianus, which was a Roman family name derived from the Latin word "lux" meaning "light." The name is believed to have originated in the central Italian region of Lazio.
In the early records, the name was often written as "Lucian" or "Luciano" with various spelling variations such as "Luciani" and "Luziano." One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a document from the city of Rome dated 1189, which mentions a man named "Petrus Lucianus."
The name Luciano has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest was Luciano di Pietro Buonavoglia, an Italian painter who lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. His works can be found in churches and museums across Italy.
Another notable Luciano was Luciano di Laurana, an Italian architect and sculptor who was active in the 15th century. He is best known for his work on the Palazzo Ducale in Urbino, which is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture.
In the 16th century, Luciano Laurana, an Italian painter and engraver, gained recognition for his religious works and portraits. He was born in Udine in 1520 and died in Venice in 1602.
During the 18th century, Luciano Comida, an Italian composer and violinist, made significant contributions to the development of the violin concerto. He was born in Naples in 1718 and died in Paris in 1793.
In the 20th century, Luciano Pavarotti, the renowned Italian operatic tenor, became one of the most celebrated opera singers of all time. He was born in Modena in 1935 and passed away in 2007, leaving behind a rich legacy in the world of classical music.
Throughout its history, the surname Luciano has been associated with various places, such as the town of Luciano in the province of Salerno, Italy, and the Luciano River in the region of Calabria, Italy. These place names may have contributed to the spread and popularity of the surname in different regions of Italy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Luciano
Among Census respondents with the surname Luciano, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 55.5%. The next largest groups are White (39.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Luciano 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 Luciano surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino55.5%
- White39.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.3%
- Black or African American0.9%
- Unknown or suppressed0.7%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Luciano 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 | #3,848 | #3,486 | 9.4% |
| Count | 8,478 | 10,247 | 20.9% |
| Per 100K | 3.14 | 3.47 | 10.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Luciano bearers went from 8,478 to 10,247 (+20.9% change). The surname moved up 362 positions in the national ranking, going from #3,848 to #3,486.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Luciano
FAQ
Luciano surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Luciano?
The surname Luciano holds position #3,486 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 11,894 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 3.47 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Luciano surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Luciano, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 55.5%. The next largest groups are White (39.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.3%). 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.