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

Peluso, 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 Peluso surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peluso in America

Peluso is the 8822nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peluso surname appeared 3,712 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 Peluso.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peluso 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 Peluso

The surname Peluso originates from Italy, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Italian word "peloso," which means "hairy" or "shaggy." This name was likely given as a nickname or descriptive surname to individuals with abundant hair or a hairy appearance.

The earliest recorded instances of the Peluso surname can be traced back to the 13th century in the regions of Campania and Calabria in southern Italy. These regions were home to numerous noble families and influential figures who bore the name Peluso.

In the 14th century, the Peluso name appeared in several historical documents and records from the Kingdom of Naples. One notable mention was found in the "Codice Diplomatico Barese," a collection of manuscripts and documents from the city of Bari, where a certain Nicola Peluso was mentioned as a landowner and nobleman.

Throughout the centuries, the Peluso surname has been associated with various notable individuals. For instance, Gian Vincenzo Peluso (1566-1638) was a renowned Italian composer and organist who served at the court of the Duke of Mantua. Another prominent figure was Giovanni Battista Peluso (1638-1720), a Neapolitan painter known for his religious works and frescoes adorning churches throughout southern Italy.

In the 18th century, the Peluso name gained further recognition with the birth of Niccolò Peluso (1745-1810), a distinguished Italian mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and served as the director of the Naples Observatory.

Another notable figure was Girolamo Peluso (1824-1891), an Italian politician and lawyer who played a pivotal role in the unification of Italy. He served as a member of the Italian Parliament and was a staunch supporter of the Risorgimento movement.

The Peluso surname has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout Italy. For example, the town of Peluso, located in the province of Salerno, is believed to have derived its name from the presence of families bearing the Peluso surname in the region.

While the Peluso name has its roots in Italy, it has since spread across the globe, carried by Italian emigrants and their descendants. However, this detailed history focuses solely on the surname's origins and notable figures from its Italian heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peluso

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

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

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

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