2000
#17,823
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,448
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.54
Rare Last name
Narciso
A surname derived from the Greek mythological figure Narcissus, indicating vanity or self-absorption.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,269 Americans carry the last name Narciso. That puts it at #14,497 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.66 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 151,060 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Narciso 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
2.3K
1 in 151,060
Census rank
#14,497
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,979 bearers of the surname Narciso in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.66 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14497th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Narciso, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 34.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (31.5%) and White (29.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Narciso
The surname Narciso has its origins in Italy, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the classical Greek name Narkissos, which is associated with the mythological figure Narcissus, known for his exceptional beauty and vanity. The name is believed to have been adopted as a surname in various Italian regions, including Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio.
One of the earliest known references to the surname Narciso can be found in the Florentine tax records from the late 13th century, where several individuals bearing this name were listed. In the 14th century, the name appeared in various historical documents, such as the Catasto of Florence, a comprehensive census and property record compiled between 1427 and 1430.
During the Renaissance period, the Narciso surname gained prominence in Italy, particularly in the artistic and intellectual circles. Notably, Pietro Narciso (1455-1528), a renowned architect and sculptor from Tuscany, left a significant mark on the architectural landscape of Rome and other Italian cities with his contributions to several notable buildings and monuments.
Another prominent bearer of the Narciso surname was Gianfrancesco Narciso (1592-1652), a Baroque painter from Umbria. His works, which included religious scenes and portraits, can be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy, showcasing his skills and artistic vision.
In the 18th century, the surname Narciso made its way to Spain, where it was adopted by a branch of the family. One noteworthy individual was José Narciso Aparicio (1741-1810), a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Paraguay from 1796 to 1804.
The Narciso surname also found its way to the Americas, with several notable individuals bearing this name. One example is José Narciso Rovirosa (1849-1920), a Mexican botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the Yucatán Peninsula.
In the 20th century, the Narciso surname continued to be represented by individuals across various fields. Pietro Narciso (1892-1976), an Italian-American businessman and philanthropist, played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Narciso Foundation, which supported educational and cultural initiatives in New York City.
These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable individuals associated with the surname Narciso. While its origins can be traced back to ancient Greece and its mythological roots, the name has left an indelible mark across various regions, cultures, and eras, reflecting the diverse and fascinating narratives woven into the tapestry of family names.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Narciso
Among Census respondents with the surname Narciso, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 34.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (31.5%) and White (29.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Narciso 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 Narciso surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander34.8% · 689
- Hispanic or Latino31.5% · 623
- White29.5% · 583
- Two or more races2.1% · 42
- Black or African American2.0% · 39
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Narciso
Narciso appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#15,127
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,949
+501 bearers (+34.6%)
Per 100,000 0.66
Rank movement Up 2,696 places
2020
#14,497
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,979
+30 bearers (+1.5%)
Per 100,000 0.66
Rank movement Up 630 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #17,823 | 1,448 | 0.54 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #15,127 | 1,949 | 0.66 | +501 bearers (+34.6%) | Up 2,696 places |
| 2020 | #14,497 | 1,979 | 0.66 | +30 bearers (+1.5%) | Up 630 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 Narciso 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 | #15,127 | #14,497 | 4.2% |
| Count | 1,949 | 1,979 | 1.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.66 | 0.66 | 0.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Narciso bearers went from 1,949 to 1,979 (+1.5% change). The surname moved up 630 positions in the national ranking, going from #15,127 to #14,497.
FAQ
Narciso surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Narciso?
Name Census estimates that about 2,269 living Americans carry the surname Narciso. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 151,060 residents.
How common is Narciso?
Narciso ranks #14,497 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.66 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,979 people with the surname Narciso. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,269), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.66 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.66 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Narciso.
Has Narciso become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Narciso went from 1,949 recorded bearers to 1,979. That is an increase of 30 (+1.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #15,127 to #14,497.
What does the Census say about the background of Narciso?
Among Census respondents with the surname Narciso, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 34.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (31.5%) and White (29.5%). 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?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Narciso in the 2020 Census, accounting for 34.8% (689 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Narciso appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (34.8%), Hispanic (31.5%), White (29.5%). 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 Narciso (2000, 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 Narciso mean?
A surname derived from the Greek mythological figure Narcissus, indicating vanity or self-absorption. 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 Narciso (0.66 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 common is the surname Narciso?
You can see how common the surname Narciso is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.