Orefice last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Orefice

An occupational surname derived from the Italian word for goldsmith or jeweler.

Orefice, 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 Orefice surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Orefice in America

Orefice is the 32438th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Orefice surname appeared 709 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 Orefice.

We can also compare 2010 data for Orefice 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 32438 30929 4.76%
Count 709 710 -0.14%
Proportion per 100k 0.24 0.26 -8.00%

The history of the last name Orefice

The surname Orefice has its origins in Italy, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Italian word "orefice," which means "goldsmith" or "jeweler." This connection suggests that the name likely originated from an occupation or trade, a common practice during that time period.

One of the earliest known references to the name Orefice can be found in historical records from the city of Florence in the 14th century. In these documents, several individuals with the surname Orefice are mentioned, indicating that they were likely involved in the goldsmithing or jewelry-making trade within the city.

As the name spread throughout Italy, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. Some of these variations include Orefici, Orefece, and Oreficce. Additionally, the name Orefice has been associated with certain place names, such as Oreficeria, which means "goldsmith's workshop" in Italian.

One notable figure in history bearing the surname Orefice was Giovanni Orefice (1395-1467), a renowned goldsmith and sculptor from Florence. His works can be found in various churches and museums throughout Italy, showcasing his exceptional craftsmanship.

Another significant individual with this surname was Vincenzo Orefice (1620-1698), a Baroque architect and painter from Naples. He was responsible for designing several churches and palaces in the city, leaving a lasting impact on the architectural landscape of Naples.

In the 19th century, Giuseppe Orefice (1823-1901) gained recognition as a prominent Italian politician and statesman. He served as a member of the Italian Parliament and played a role in the unification of Italy.

Moving into the 20th century, Goffredo Orefice (1910-1998) was an Italian lawyer and politician who served as a member of the European Parliament and held various governmental positions throughout his career.

Lastly, Aldo Orefice (1929-2019) was a notable Italian architect and urban planner. He was responsible for designing numerous residential and commercial buildings, as well as urban development projects, in Italy and other parts of Europe.

Overall, the surname Orefice has a rich history deeply rooted in Italian culture and tradition, with connections to the goldsmithing and jewelry-making trades. While the name has evolved over time, it continues to carry a sense of craftsmanship and artistry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Orefice

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

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 Orefice was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.22% 668
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.99% 7
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.85% 6
Hispanic Origin 3.39% 24

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 Orefice has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.22% 95.07% -0.90%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.99% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.85% 1.13% -28.28%
Hispanic 3.39% 3.24% 4.52%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Orefice last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/orefice-surname-popularity/.

"Orefice last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/orefice-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Orefice last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/orefice-surname-popularity/.

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