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

Pelosi, 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 Pelosi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pelosi in America

Pelosi is the 20309th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pelosi surname appeared 1,309 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 Pelosi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pelosi 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 Pelosi

The surname Pelosi has its origins in Italy, with records dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "pelo," meaning hair. This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone with a distinctive hairstyle or a surname related to an occupation involving hair or fur.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the archives of the Republic of Venice, where a certain Giovanni Pelosi is mentioned in a document from 1384. Another early reference is found in the town of Assisi, where a family by the name of Pelosi is recorded as residing in the 15th century.

The name Pelosi is particularly prevalent in the regions of Umbria and Marche, indicating that these areas may have been the original birthplaces of the surname. In Umbria, the town of Perugia has a long-standing connection with the Pelosi family, with several prominent individuals bearing this surname throughout history.

One notable figure from the 16th century was Pietro Pelosi (1510-1592), a renowned painter and architect from Perugia. His works adorned several churches and palaces in the region, and he is widely recognized for his contributions to the Renaissance art movement in Italy.

Another distinguished individual was Girolamo Pelosi (1674-1744), a Jesuit priest and mathematician from the town of Foligno in Umbria. He gained recognition for his work in the field of astronomy and for his writings on religious subjects.

In the 18th century, the Pelosi family gained prominence in the town of Montefalco, Umbria, where a branch of the family established itself as landowners and influential citizens. One member, Giuseppe Pelosi (1732-1810), served as the mayor of Montefalco and played a significant role in the town's development during his tenure.

The 19th century saw the migration of many Pelosi families to other parts of Italy and beyond. Notably, Francesco Pelosi (1836-1916), a native of Marche, immigrated to the United States and settled in California, where he became a successful businessman and landowner.

Throughout the centuries, the Pelosi name has been associated with various occupations, including artisans, merchants, and professionals. While the name has maintained its Italian roots, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pelosi

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

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

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

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