Pavano
A surname derived from an Italian place name referring to someone from the town of Pavone.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 206 Americans carry the last name Pavano. That puts it at #105,600 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,663,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Pavano 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
206
1 in 1,663,856
Census rank
#105,600
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
169
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 169 bearers of the surname Pavano in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 105600th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Pavano, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Pavano
The surname Pavano originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Campania. It is derived from the Italian word "pavano," which means "peacock." The name is believed to have originated in the medieval period, possibly as a nickname or occupational name for someone who raised or traded peacocks.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pavano can be found in the Codice Diplomatico Barese, a collection of documents from the 11th to the 13th centuries in the city of Bari, Puglia. In this collection, there are references to individuals with the surname Pavano, indicating that the name was already in use during that time.
In the 14th century, the name Pavano appeared in various historical records in Naples and the surrounding areas. For example, a nobleman named Niccolò Pavano was mentioned in a document dated 1345, indicating his involvement in local politics and governance.
During the Renaissance period, the Pavano family gained prominence in the city of Naples. One notable member was Girolamo Pavano (1460-1535), a renowned humanist scholar and philosopher who authored several works on ethics and metaphysics.
In the 17th century, the Pavano family branched out to other regions of Italy. A notable figure from this period was Andrea Pavano (1610-1678), a painter from Genoa who specialized in religious and mythological subjects.
Another prominent individual with the surname Pavano was Giuseppe Pavano (1735-1808), a Neapolitan composer and music teacher who contributed to the development of the Neapolitan opera tradition.
Throughout history, the surname Pavano has also been associated with various place names, such as Pavano Grammichele, a town in the province of Catania, Sicily, and Pavano Canavese, a municipality in the province of Turin, Piedmont.
While the origin of the surname Pavano is rooted in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to immigration and diaspora. However, the historical records and notable figures mentioned above highlight the surname's rich Italian heritage and its connections to various regions and cultural achievements.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Pavano
Among Census respondents with the surname Pavano, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Pavano 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 Pavano surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.6%
- Hispanic or Latino10.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Pavano 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 | #105,600 | #105,600 | 0.0% |
| Count | 169 | 169 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Pavano bearers went from 169 to 169 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #105,600 to #105,600.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Pavano
FAQ
Pavano surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Pavano?
The surname Pavano holds position #105,600 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 206 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Pavano surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Pavano, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.7%). 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.