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

Mazzaferro, 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 Mazzaferro surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mazzaferro in America

Mazzaferro is the 36838th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mazzaferro surname appeared 606 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 Mazzaferro.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mazzaferro 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 Mazzaferro

The surname Mazzaferro has its origins in Italy, specifically in the regions of Campania and Lazio, dating back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the Italian words "mazza" meaning mace or club, and "ferro" meaning iron, indicating a possible connection to an ironsmith or a warrior who wielded an iron mace as a weapon.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Mazzaferro can be traced back to the 13th century, found in various historical documents and records from the cities of Naples and Rome. One notable reference is a mention of a certain Girolamo Mazzaferro in a 1492 manuscript detailing the artisans and craftsmen of Naples.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the records of the Duchy of Parma, where a noble family bearing the Mazzaferro name held land and titles. One prominent member, Antonio Mazzaferro (1548-1612), was a renowned jurist and diplomat who served under the Farnese dukes.

The name Mazzaferro has also been linked to the town of Rocca Priora, located in the Alban Hills near Rome. Historical records from the 17th century mention a lineage of Mazzaferro landowners and nobility in the area, some of whom were involved in local politics and governance.

Notable individuals with the surname Mazzaferro throughout history include:

1. Vincenzo Mazzaferro (1712-1789), an Italian painter and engraver from Naples, known for his religious works and portraits.
2. Pietro Mazzaferro (1856-1932), an Italian sculptor and medallist from Rome, whose works can be found in various churches and museums across Italy.
3. Gaetano Mazzaferro (1875-1949), an Italian politician and trade unionist who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies in the early 20th century.
4. Maria Mazzaferro (1908-1995), an Italian actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and stage productions during the mid-20th century.
5. Giancarlo Mazzaferro (1936-2018), an Italian director and screenwriter known for his contributions to Italian cinema, particularly in the neo-realist genre.

The surname Mazzaferro, with its rich history and associations with various regions of Italy, has endured through the centuries, reflecting the cultural and historical significance of this Italian family name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mazzaferro

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

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

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

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