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

Orso, 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 Orso surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Orso in America

Orso is the 22516th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Orso surname appeared 1,142 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 Orso.

We can also compare 2010 data for Orso 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 Orso

The surname Orso is believed to have originated in Italy, specifically in the regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is derived from the Italian word "orso," meaning "bear." The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages, when surnames began to be adopted more widely across Europe.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Orso can be found in the Venetian archives from the 13th century. The name appears in various documents, including records of land ownership and legal proceedings. It is possible that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals who resided near areas inhabited by bears or those who displayed bear-like characteristics or traits.

In the 14th century, the name Orso was documented in the city of Padua, where a family by that name held notable positions within the local government. One prominent figure was Giovanni Orso, who served as a magistrate in Padua during the late 1300s.

As the surname spread across Italy, variations in spelling emerged, such as Orsi, Orsini, and Orsolo. These variations often indicated regional differences or were adopted by different branches of the same family.

One of the most famous individuals to bear the surname Orso was Giacomo Orso (1500-1568), a renowned Venetian architect and sculptor. His works include the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, which is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture.

Another notable figure was Antonio Orso (1668-1742), an Italian composer and violinist who served as the Kapellmeister (music director) at the court of Prince-Bishop Ferdinand von Bayern in Münster, Germany.

In the 19th century, the name Orso appeared in historical records from the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. One such individual was Giuseppe Orso (1807-1876), a prominent lawyer and politician who played a significant role in the Italian unification movement.

The surname Orso has also been documented in other parts of Europe, including France and Spain, likely due to migration patterns and intermarriage between families from different regions. However, its origins can be traced back to the Italian peninsula, where it has a rich and diverse history spanning several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Orso

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

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

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

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