Pandolfo
Italian surname meaning a person who raised cubs or young wolves.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 960 Americans carry the last name Pandolfo. That puts it at #28,704 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.28 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 357,036 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Pandolfo surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
960
1 in 357,036
Census rank
#28,704
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
830
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 830 bearers of the surname Pandolfo in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.28 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 28704th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Pandolfo, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Black (0.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Pandolfo
The surname Pandolfo has its origins in Italy, dating back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the Italian personal name Pandolfo, which is believed to be a combination of the Germanic elements "pant" meaning "pledge" and "wulf" meaning "wolf." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who was considered a loyal or trustworthy person.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pandolfo can be found in the 11th century, when a nobleman named Pandolfo Capodiferro was mentioned in historical documents from the city of Benevento in southern Italy. Pandolfo Capodiferro was a prominent figure in the region during the 11th century and played a significant role in the political and military affairs of the time.
The name Pandolfo also appears in several Italian literary works from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period. For instance, the 14th-century poet Petrarch mentions a character named Pandolfo in one of his works, indicating that the name was relatively well-known during that time.
In the 15th century, a notable figure named Pandolfo Petrucci held significant power in the city of Siena, serving as the ruler of the city-state from 1487 to 1512. Petrucci was a highly influential figure in Italian politics and played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of the region.
Another prominent individual with the surname Pandolfo was the 16th-century Italian architect and sculptor Pandolfo Pericoli, who was active in the city of Florence during the Renaissance. Pericoli was renowned for his architectural designs and his contributions to the artistic and cultural development of the city.
Throughout the centuries, the surname Pandolfo has been found in various regions of Italy, including Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. It has also been associated with several place names, such as Pandolfo di Caravaggio, a town in the province of Bergamo, and Pandolfo Malatesta, a noble family from the region of Rimini.
While the surname Pandolfo is relatively uncommon today, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period in Italy. The name has been carried by notable figures in various fields, including politics, literature, and the arts, reflecting its enduring legacy and cultural significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Pandolfo
Among Census respondents with the surname Pandolfo, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Black (0.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Pandolfo bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Pandolfo surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.4%
- Hispanic or Latino4.7%
- Black or African American0.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- Two or more races0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Pandolfo 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 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #28,704 | #28,704 | 0.0% |
| Count | 830 | 830 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.28 | 0.28 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Pandolfo bearers went from 830 to 830 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #28,704 to #28,704.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Pandolfo
FAQ
Pandolfo surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Pandolfo?
The surname Pandolfo holds position #28,704 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 960 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.28 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Pandolfo surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Pandolfo, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Black (0.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.