2010
#146,201
National surname rank
First available Census row
An Italian surname derived from a diminutive form of the given name Nolo or Nolfo.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 134 Americans carry the last name Nolletti. That puts it at #144,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,557,868 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Nolletti 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
134
1 in 2,557,868
Census rank
#144,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
117
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 117 bearers of the surname Nolletti in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 144270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Nolletti, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%).
Origin
The surname Nolletti is of Italian origin, with roots tracing back to the northwestern regions of the country, particularly in the areas surrounding Genoa. It is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, potentially derived from an occupational title or a place name.
One theory suggests that Nolletti could be linked to the Italian word "nollo," which referred to a specific type of woolen cloth produced in the region. This connection implies that the name may have been associated with individuals involved in the textile trade or production of woolen fabrics.
Another possibility is that Nolletti originated as a toponymic surname, stemming from a specific location or geographic feature. It is not uncommon for surnames to be derived from place names, often reflecting the birthplace or residence of an individual or family.
Historical records from the 14th and 15th centuries mention individuals bearing the Nolletti surname, though specific details are scarce. One notable reference is found in a document dated 1412, which lists a merchant named Giovanni Nolletti, who conducted business dealings in the city of Genoa.
In the 16th century, a religious figure named Pietro Nolletti (1505-1578) gained prominence as a Franciscan friar and theologian. He authored several works on theological subjects and served as a respected scholar within the Catholic Church.
Another noteworthy individual was Alessandro Nolletti (1631-1702), a painter from Genoa who specialized in portraiture and religious works. His paintings can be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy, showcasing his skill and artistic talent.
During the 18th century, a prominent family bearing the Nolletti name resided in the town of Savona, located along the Ligurian coast. Historical records indicate that they were involved in maritime trade and held influential positions within the local community.
In the late 19th century, Enrico Nolletti (1865-1932) gained recognition as a composer and conductor. Born in Genoa, he composed several operas and orchestral works, contributing to the cultural landscape of Italy during that era.
While the exact origins of the Nolletti surname remain somewhat uncertain, its Italian roots and historical presence in the northwestern regions of the country are well-documented. The name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, religious figures, artists, and composers, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of Italy.
Demographics
Among Census respondents with the surname Nolletti, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Nolletti 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 Nolletti surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
Timeline
Nolletti 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.
2010
National surname rank
First available Census row
2020
National surname rank
+4 bearers (+3.5%)
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #146,201 | 113 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #144,270 | 117 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.5%) | Up 1,931 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
How has the Nolletti surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #146,201 | #144,270 | 1.3% |
| Count | 113 | 117 | 3.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -2.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Nolletti bearers went from 113 to 117 (+3.5% change). The surname moved up 1,931 positions in the national ranking, going from #146,201 to #144,270.
FAQ
Name Census estimates that about 134 living Americans carry the surname Nolletti. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,557,868 residents.
Nolletti ranks #144,270 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.
The raw 2020 Census file counted 117 people with the surname Nolletti. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (134), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
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 Nolletti.
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Nolletti went from 113 recorded bearers to 117. That is an increase of 4 (+3.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #146,201 to #144,270.
Among Census respondents with the surname Nolletti, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Nolletti in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.2% (109 people in the source table).
Nolletti appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.2%), Hispanic (4.3%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%). 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.
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 Nolletti (2010, 2020).
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.
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.
An Italian surname derived from a diminutive form of the given name Nolo or Nolfo. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
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.
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 Nolletti (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.
See how many people have the surname Nolletti on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.