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

Pace, 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 Pace surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pace in America

Pace is the 868th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pace surname appeared 39,879 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 14 people would have the surname Pace.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pace 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 Pace

The surname Pace is of Italian origin, derived from the Latin word "pax" meaning peace. It is believed to have originated in the medieval period, potentially as a nickname for someone with a calm and peaceful demeanor.

The earliest recorded instances of the Pace surname can be traced back to the 13th century in regions such as Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. The name is also found in historical documents from the 14th and 15th centuries, such as tax records and property deeds.

One notable historical figure bearing the Pace surname was Giovanni Battista Pace (1555-1637), an Italian mathematician and astronomer. He is best known for his work on the construction of sundials and his contributions to the study of optics.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Pietro Pace (1472-1514), an Italian humanist and scholar. He served as a secretary to Pope Leo X and was renowned for his Latin translations of Greek works.

In the 16th century, the Pace family held significant influence in the Republic of Venice. Antonio Pace (1503-1570) was a Venetian senator and ambassador, known for his diplomatic efforts in negotiating peace treaties.

The Pace surname also has historical ties to the island of Sicily, where it was particularly prevalent. One notable Sicilian with this name was Francesco Pace (1808-1882), a politician and writer who played a role in the Risorgimento movement for Italian unification.

In the realm of art, the Italian painter Giuseppe Pace (1679-1738) gained recognition for his religious paintings and frescoes adorning churches in Rome and Naples.

While the surname Pace has its origins in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration. However, it remains deeply rooted in its Italian heritage, reflecting the historical significance and contributions of individuals bearing this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pace

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

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

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

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