2000
#139,757
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Pesiri
A surname likely derived from the Italian word "pesira" or "pisaria" meaning a pea field or pea garden.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Pesiri. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Pesiri surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Pesiri in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Pesiri, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (16.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Pesiri
The surname Pesiri is believed to have originated in Italy, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Latin word "piscis," meaning fish, suggesting a possible connection to a fishing community or trade.
One of the earliest known references to the Pesiri name can be found in historical records from the 13th century, where it appears in documents from the city of Genoa. These records indicate that a family bearing this surname was involved in maritime activities, lending credence to the theory of its association with fishing.
In the 14th century, the name Pesiri gained prominence in the region of Tuscany, with several notable individuals bearing this surname. One such figure was Gianni Pesiri (1322-1398), a renowned merchant and trade negotiator who played a pivotal role in establishing trade agreements between the city-states of Florence and Pisa.
Another prominent Pesiri was Francesca Pesiri (1456-1524), a celebrated artist from Siena known for her intricate fresco work in various churches and palaces throughout Tuscany. Her artistic legacy left a lasting impression on the Renaissance art scene in Italy.
During the 16th century, the Pesiri name found its way to the region of Campania, where it became associated with the prestigious Pesiri family of Naples. This family established itself as a prominent force in the local politics and governance of the city, with several members holding influential positions in the Neapolitan nobility.
One of the most notable figures from this branch of the Pesiri family was Lorenzo Pesiri (1576-1648), a renowned jurist and legal scholar who served as a magistrate in the Neapolitan court system. His contributions to the development of legal principles and jurisprudence were widely respected throughout the Italian peninsula.
In the 18th century, a branch of the Pesiri family migrated to the island of Sicily, where they settled in the city of Palermo. Here, the name Pesiri became associated with a family of skilled artisans and craftsmen, renowned for their intricate woodworking and furniture-making skills.
Among the most celebrated members of this Sicilian branch was Giuseppe Pesiri (1712-1789), a master woodcarver whose exquisite works adorned many of Palermo's most prestigious churches and palaces. His creations were highly sought after by the nobility and wealthy patrons of the time.
Throughout its history, the surname Pesiri has been linked to various professions and pursuits, from fishing and maritime activities to art, law, and craftsmanship. While its origins may be rooted in the Latin word for fish, the name has transcended its initial associations and become a part of the rich tapestry of Italian cultural heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Pesiri
Among Census respondents with the surname Pesiri, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (16.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Pesiri bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Pesiri surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White79.2% · 95
- Hispanic or Latino16.7% · 20
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7% · 2
- Two or more races1.7% · 2
- Black or African American0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Pesiri
Pesiri appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#124,548
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 138
+28 bearers (+25.5%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 15,209 places
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
-18 bearers (-13.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 17,501 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #139,757 | 110 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #124,548 | 138 | 0.05 | +28 bearers (+25.5%) | Up 15,209 places |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | -18 bearers (-13.0%) | Down 17,501 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Pesiri surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #124,548 | #142,049 | -14.1% |
| Count | 138 | 120 | -13.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -19.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Pesiri bearers went from 138 to 120 (-13.0% change). The surname moved down 17,501 positions in the national ranking, going from #124,548 to #142,049.
FAQ
Pesiri surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Pesiri?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Pesiri. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Pesiri?
Pesiri ranks #142,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 120 people with the surname Pesiri. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Pesiri.
Has Pesiri become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Pesiri went from 138 recorded bearers to 120. That is a decrease of 18 (-13.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #124,548 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Pesiri?
Among Census respondents with the surname Pesiri, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (16.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Pesiri in the 2020 Census, accounting for 79.2% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Pesiri appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (79.2%), Hispanic (16.7%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Pesiri (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Pesiri mean?
A surname likely derived from the Italian word "pesira" or "pisaria" meaning a pea field or pea garden. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Pesiri (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Pesiri?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.