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

Passero, 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 Passero surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Passero in America

Passero is the 26025th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Passero surname appeared 942 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 Passero.

We can also compare 2010 data for Passero 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 Passero

The surname Passero originated in Italy, likely during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "passero," which means "sparrow." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname given to someone who bore a resemblance to the small bird or perhaps had its characteristics, such as being quick or agile.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Passero can be found in historical documents from the region of Campania, particularly the city of Naples. This area was once a prominent center of trade and commerce, which could explain how the name spread to other parts of Italy and eventually beyond.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Giovanni Passero (c. 1420-1498) was a prominent Italian humanist and scholar. He was born in Genoa and is known for his work in translating ancient Greek texts into Latin, contributing to the Renaissance's revival of classical learning.

Another significant historical figure with the surname Passero was Francesco Passero (1534-1596), an Italian architect and engineer. He was born in Siena and is best known for his work on the construction of the Sienese fortress of Porta Camollia, which was a crucial part of the city's defensive system during the 16th century.

In the 17th century, Gaspare Passero (1609-1679) was a notable Italian painter from the Baroque period. He was born in Nocera Inferiore, near Naples, and was known for his religious paintings and frescoes, many of which can still be found in churches throughout Italy.

Moving forward to the 18th century, there was Giambattista Passero (1735-1803), an Italian linguist and philologist. He was born in Cosenza, Calabria, and made significant contributions to the study of the Italian language, publishing several works on grammar and lexicography.

Lastly, in the 19th century, Ferdinando Passero (1823-1892) was an Italian politician and lawyer. He was born in Portici, near Naples, and served as a member of the Italian Parliament, representing his home region of Campania.

While the surname Passero has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, likely through migration and intermarriage. However, its origins can be traced back to the Italian peninsula, where it has a long and rich history spanning several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Passero

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

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

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

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