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

Morello, 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 Morello surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Morello in America

Morello is the 9853rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Morello surname appeared 3,283 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Morello.

We can also compare 2010 data for Morello 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 Morello

The surname Morello is of Italian origin, having its roots in the region of Sicily. It dates back to the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century. The name is derived from the Italian word "moro," meaning "dark-skinned" or "Moor," referring to the ethnic group from North Africa.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Morello can be found in historical documents from the city of Palermo, Sicily, during the 13th century. It is believed that the name was initially given to individuals with darker complexions, possibly of North African or Middle Eastern descent, who settled in the region during the period of Arab influence in Sicily.

In the 14th century, the Morello family was prominently mentioned in records related to the noble families of Palermo. A notable figure was Giovanni Morello, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived between 1320 and 1385. He was known for his contributions to the city's economy and cultural life.

As the Morello family grew and expanded throughout Italy, the surname also took on variations such as Morelli, Morella, and Morelló. These variations reflect regional dialects and linguistic adaptations over time.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Morello family settled in the city of Naples, where they gained prominence in the legal and academic fields. One notable figure was Giambattista Morello (1548-1623), a renowned jurist and author of several legal treatises.

During the 18th century, the Morello surname gained recognition in the arts and literature. Antonio Morello (1712-1783) was a celebrated painter from Palermo, known for his religious and mythological works. His contemporary, Pietro Morello (1718-1792), was a renowned poet and playwright from Naples.

As the Italian diaspora spread across the globe, the Morello surname traveled with them. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Italians with the surname Morello immigrated to the United States, settling in cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago.

Throughout history, the Morello surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, merchants, and nobility. While the name originated in Sicily, it has since become widespread across Italy and beyond, carrying with it a rich cultural heritage and a connection to the region's diverse ethnic and historical influences.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Morello

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

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

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

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