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

Musella, 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 Musella surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Musella in America

Musella is the 52169th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Musella surname appeared 398 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 Musella.

We can also compare 2010 data for Musella 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 Musella

The surname Musella is of Italian origin, specifically from the Campania region of southern Italy. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "musca," which means "fly." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who exhibited fly-like characteristics or who may have had an occupation related to flies.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Musella date back to the 16th century. In 1567, a document from the town of Castellammare di Stabia, near Naples, mentioned a certain Giovanni Musella. This is one of the earliest known references to the surname in written records.

In the 17th century, the name Musella appeared in various historical documents from the Campania region. For example, in 1689, a Francesco Musella was listed as a landowner in the town of Gragnano, known for its production of pasta. This indicates that the Musella family may have been involved in agriculture or food-related businesses during that time.

One notable individual with the surname Musella was Nicola Musella, a painter who lived in Naples during the 18th century. He was known for his religious works and frescoes adorning churches in the city. His works can still be seen in the Church of Santa Maria della Sanità and other historical buildings in Naples.

In the 19th century, the Musella surname gained prominence in the field of medicine. Gaetano Musella (1832-1900) was a renowned Italian surgeon and professor who made significant contributions to the advancement of surgical techniques. He is particularly remembered for his work on thyroid surgery and the development of the "Musella operation" for treating thyroid disorders.

Another notable figure was Placido Musella (1854-1932), an Italian lawyer and politician who served as a deputy in the Italian Parliament. He was involved in various legal reforms and advocated for the rights of workers and farmers during his political career.

As the Musella family dispersed throughout Italy and beyond, the name took on various spellings and variations. For instance, the surname Muselli and Muselli are believed to be derived from the same root as Musella, reflecting regional linguistic differences.

Overall, the surname Musella has a rich history rooted in the Campania region of Italy, with connections to agriculture, art, medicine, and political spheres over the centuries. Despite its unique origins, it has become a recognizable Italian surname with a presence across various fields and geographical areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Musella

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

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

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

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