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

Napolitan, 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 Napolitan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Napolitan in America

Napolitan is the 40610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Napolitan surname appeared 538 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 Napolitan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Napolitan 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 Napolitan

The surname Napolitan originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Campania, which includes the city of Naples (Napoli in Italian). This surname dates back to the medieval period and is derived from the Italian word "napoletano," meaning "Neapolitan" or "of Naples."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Napolitan can be found in historical documents from the 14th century, such as tax records and property deeds. These documents often referred to individuals as "Napoletano" or "de Napoli," indicating their connection to the city of Naples.

During the Renaissance period, the Napolitan surname gained prominence as Naples became a major cultural and artistic center. Several notable figures from this era bore the surname, including the painter Giovanne Napolitan (1540-1612), whose works can still be found in churches and museums throughout Italy.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Napolitan family migrated to Spain, where the name was adapted to the Spanish spelling "Napolitano." One notable member of this branch was Diego Napolitano (1621-1697), a renowned architect who designed several churches and palaces in Madrid and Seville.

As the Napolitan name spread across Europe, it also found its way to other parts of the world through migration and exploration. In the 18th century, a French explorer named Jacques Napolitan (1732-1803) was instrumental in mapping the western coast of North America, and a small town in present-day California was named after him.

During the 19th century, the Napolitan surname became more widespread in the United States, particularly in areas with large Italian immigrant communities. One notable figure from this era was Giuseppe Napolitan (1846-1921), a sculptor and artist who created numerous public monuments and memorials across the eastern United States.

Throughout its long history, the surname Napolitan has been associated with various professions, from artists and architects to explorers and entrepreneurs. Although the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its origins remain firmly rooted in the vibrant city of Naples and the rich cultural heritage of southern Italy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Napolitan

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

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

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

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