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

Pappalardo, 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 Pappalardo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pappalardo in America

Pappalardo is the 15370th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pappalardo surname appeared 1,908 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Pappalardo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pappalardo 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 Pappalardo

The surname Pappalardo originates from Italy, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in Sicily, derived from the Greek word "pappos," meaning "grandfather" or "ancestor." The suffix "-ardo" is of Germanic origin, indicating strength or valor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pappalardo can be found in a Sicilian manuscript from the 13th century, where it was spelled "Pappalardus." This spelling variation reflects the influence of Latin on the Italian language during that period.

In the 14th century, the name Pappalardo appeared in a Sicilian tax record, suggesting that families bearing this surname had established themselves as landowners or merchants in the region.

During the Renaissance period, the name Pappalardo gained prominence in Sicily and other parts of southern Italy. Notably, Antonio Pappalardo (1520-1592) was a renowned painter from Messina, known for his religious works and frescoes adorning churches throughout Sicily.

In the 17th century, the Pappalardo family played a significant role in the Sicilian Baroque movement. Giovanni Pappalardo (1635-1711), a sculptor and architect, designed several churches and palaces in Palermo and its surrounding areas.

As the centuries progressed, the Pappalardo name spread beyond Sicily to other regions of Italy. In the 18th century, Domenico Pappalardo (1738-1802) was a respected jurist and professor of law at the University of Naples.

During the 19th century, the Pappalardo family made its mark in the literary world. Francesco Pappalardo (1820-1887) was a prominent Italian poet and playwright, known for his works celebrating Sicilian culture and traditions.

In the 20th century, the name Pappalardo gained international recognition through the achievements of Salvatore Pappalardo (1918-2006), a renowned artist and sculptor whose works are displayed in museums and public spaces across Europe and the United States.

Throughout its history, the surname Pappalardo has been associated with a diverse range of professions, from the arts and academia to law and politics, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Italy and the entrepreneurial spirit of those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pappalardo

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

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

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

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