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

Massimo, 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 Massimo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Massimo in America

Massimo is the 48060th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Massimo surname appeared 440 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 Massimo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Massimo 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 Massimo

The surname Massimo originates from Italy, with its roots tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Latin personal name "Maximus," which means "the greatest" or "the largest." The name was initially used as a cognomen, or a nickname, to distinguish individuals of great stature or prominence within the ancient Roman society.

During the Middle Ages, the name Massimo became particularly prevalent in the regions of Lazio, Campania, and Puglia. It was often used as a personal name, and over time, it transitioned into a hereditary surname, following the Italian naming tradition of adopting the father's given name as the family name.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname Massimo can be found in the 13th-century records of the city of Rome, where a nobleman named Massimo di Colonna is mentioned. The di Colonna family was a prominent Roman noble family, and their association with the name Massimo highlights its aristocratic connections.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various historical documents, including the Libro d'Oro, a registry of noble families in Venice. This record mentions the Massimo family, which held influential positions within the Venetian Republic.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname Massimo. One of the most prominent was Pietro Massimo (1459-1535), a Roman scholar, humanist, and patron of the arts, who played a significant role in the Italian Renaissance. Another notable figure was Camillo Massimo (1620-1677), a Roman nobleman and diplomat who served as a papal nuncio to Spain and Portugal.

In the 18th century, the Massimo family continued to hold significant social and political influence in Italy. Massimiliano Massimo (1770-1825) was a highly respected Roman nobleman and patron of the arts, known for his extensive art collection and his support of artists and architects.

The surname Massimo can also be traced to various place names, such as Massimo di Nola, a town in the province of Naples, and Massimo Rilievo, a mountain peak in the Apennine range. These geographical references further underscore the deep-rooted connection between the surname and the Italian landscape.

While the surname Massimo has its origins in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by Italian immigrants and their descendants. However, the historical records and notable figures mentioned above highlight the surname's rich heritage and its enduring association with Italian culture and nobility.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Massimo

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

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 Massimo 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 Massimo 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 Massimo was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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