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

Nappa, 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 Nappa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nappa in America

Nappa is the 48995th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nappa surname appeared 430 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 Nappa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nappa 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 Nappa

The surname NAPPA is of Italian origin, originating from the region of Campania in southern Italy. It is believed to have emerged in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

One theory suggests that NAPPA is derived from the Italian word "nappa," which means a tuft or tassel. This could indicate that the name was originally an occupational surname, possibly referring to someone who made or worked with tassels or decorative fringes.

Another possibility is that NAPPA is a topographic surname, referring to a geographical feature or place of origin. It may be connected to the town of Nappa, a small village located in the province of Avellino, Campania. The name could have been adopted by individuals who hailed from or lived near this location.

Historical records from the 14th century mention a nobleman named Guglielmo Nappa, who held lands in the Kingdom of Naples during the reign of King Robert of Anjou (1309-1343). This suggests that the NAPPA surname had already established itself among the nobility of the region by that time.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Giovanni Nappa (1420-1492) was a prominent lawyer and jurist in Naples, serving as a judge in the city's high court. His legal writings and commentaries were widely studied and influential during the Renaissance period.

Another individual of note was Girolamo Nappa (1570-1639), a Neapolitan painter and fresco artist who worked in the Baroque style. His works can be found in churches and palaces throughout Naples and the surrounding region.

During the 18th century, a wealthy merchant named Antonio Nappa (1715-1788) from the town of Salerno acquired significant landholdings and became a respected figure in the local community. His descendants continued to be prominent landowners and businessmen in the area for several generations.

In the 19th century, Pietro Nappa (1832-1901) was a renowned Italian composer and conductor. He composed several operas and orchestral works, many of which were performed in the major opera houses of Italy and across Europe during his lifetime.

While the NAPPA surname is predominantly found in Italy, particularly in the regions of Campania, Basilicata, and Calabria, it has also spread to other parts of the world through immigration. However, its roots can be traced back to the historic regions of southern Italy, where it has a long and notable history spanning several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nappa

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

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

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

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