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

Papia, 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 Papia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Papia in America

Papia is the 61436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Papia surname appeared 327 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 Papia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Papia 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 Papia

The surname PAPIA has its origins in Italy, where it first emerged during the medieval period. Its roots can be traced back to the Latin word "papilio," meaning butterfly. It's believed that the name was initially given as a nickname to someone who had a fluttering or butterfly-like demeanor or appearance.

During the 13th century, the name PAPIA appeared in various records and documents across several regions of Italy, including Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a 1274 manuscript from the town of Orvieto, where a certain Pietro PAPIA was mentioned as a landowner.

In the 14th century, the name gained prominence in the city of Florence, where a family bearing the surname PAPIA played a significant role in local politics and commerce. Notably, Giovanni PAPIA (1320-1395) served as a respected merchant and diplomat, representing Florence in trade negotiations with neighboring cities.

As the name spread across Italy, it underwent several spelling variations, such as PAPI, PAPPI, and PAPPIA. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local pronunciation patterns.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname PAPIA. For instance, Alessandro PAPIA (1550-1612) was a renowned painter from Milan, known for his religious works and frescoes adorning various churches in the region.

In the 18th century, the name gained recognition in the field of literature with the poet and playwright Carlo PAPIA (1725-1799), whose works were widely celebrated during his lifetime.

Another prominent figure was the Italian composer and conductor Luigi PAPIA (1870-1942), whose operas and symphonic works were highly regarded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

During the Renaissance period, the name PAPIA was also associated with the town of Papia in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, which was known for its textile industry and trade.

While the surname PAPIA is not among the most common in Italy today, it continues to carry a rich historical legacy, reflecting the diverse cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped the country over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Papia

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

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

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

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