2010
#157,234
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Nanco
An occupational surname referring to a supplier or merchant.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 126 Americans carry the last name Nanco. That puts it at #149,446 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,720,273 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Nanco surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
126
1 in 2,720,273
Census rank
#149,446
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
110
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 110 bearers of the surname Nanco in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 149446th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Nanco, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 68.2%. The next largest groups are Black (17.3%) and White (14.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Nanco
The surname NANCO is believed to have originated in Italy during the medieval period, likely stemming from a nickname or a place name. One possible derivation could be from the Latin word "nancisci," meaning "to obtain" or "to acquire," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who acquired a significant amount of wealth or property.
Another theory traces the name's roots to the Italian town of Nanco, located in the province of Brescia in the Lombardy region. It is plausible that the surname was adopted by individuals who hailed from or had some connection to this particular locale. In some early records, variations such as Nanco, Nanco, and Nancho can be found, reflecting the fluidity of spellings in those times.
One of the earliest known references to the NANCO surname dates back to the 13th century, where it appears in the Codice Diplomatico Bresciano, a collection of historical documents from the city of Brescia. This record provides valuable insights into the presence of the name in the region during the Middle Ages.
In the 14th century, a prominent figure bearing the NANCO surname was Giacomo Nanco, a renowned sculptor and architect from Milan. His notable works include the intricate carvings adorning the Duomo di Milano, one of the city's most iconic landmarks. Giacomo Nanco's masterful craftsmanship and contributions to the cathedral's architecture have earned him a place in the annals of Italian art history.
During the Renaissance period, the NANCO name gained further recognition with the emergence of Antonio Nanco, a celebrated painter from Venice. Born in 1460, Antonio's vibrant and innovative works showcased his artistic brilliance and helped shape the cultural landscape of the Venetian Republic.
In the realm of literature, the 16th century saw the rise of Giovanni Battista Nanco, a renowned poet and scholar from Naples. His poetic compositions, which often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, were widely acclaimed and influenced the literary circles of his time.
Another notable figure was Marcantonio Nanco, a prominent military leader from Genoa who lived during the 17th century. He played a crucial role in the city's defense against invading forces, earning him a reputation as a skilled strategist and valiant warrior.
Over the centuries, the NANCO surname has left an indelible mark on various aspects of Italian history, from the arts and literature to military endeavors. While the name's precise origins remain shrouded in mystery, its enduring presence serves as a testament to the rich cultural tapestry of the Italian peninsula.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Nanco
Among Census respondents with the surname Nanco, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 68.2%. The next largest groups are Black (17.3%) and White (14.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Nanco bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Nanco surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino68.2% · 75
- Black or African American17.3% · 19
- White14.5% · 16
Timeline
Historical Census data for Nanco
Nanco appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#149,446
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
+7 bearers (+6.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 7,788 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #157,234 | 103 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #149,446 | 110 | 0.04 | +7 bearers (+6.8%) | Up 7,788 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Nanco surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #157,234 | #149,446 | 5.0% |
| Count | 103 | 110 | 6.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 22.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Nanco bearers went from 103 to 110 (+6.8% change). The surname moved up 7,788 positions in the national ranking, going from #157,234 to #149,446.
FAQ
Nanco surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Nanco?
Name Census estimates that about 126 living Americans carry the surname Nanco. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,720,273 residents.
How common is Nanco?
Nanco ranks #149,446 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 110 people with the surname Nanco. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (126), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Nanco.
Has Nanco become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Nanco went from 103 recorded bearers to 110. That is an increase of 7 (+6.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #157,234 to #149,446.
What does the Census say about the background of Nanco?
Among Census respondents with the surname Nanco, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 68.2%. The next largest groups are Black (17.3%) and White (14.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Nanco in the 2020 Census, accounting for 68.2% (75 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Nanco appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (68.2%), Black (17.3%), White (14.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Nanco (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Nanco mean?
An occupational surname referring to a supplier or merchant. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Nanco (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Nanco?
Find out how many people have the last name Nanco on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.