Petroni
Italian surname derived from the personal name Peter, meaning "rock".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 377 Americans carry the last name Petroni. That puts it at #61,436 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 909,163 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Petroni 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
377
1 in 909,163
Census rank
#61,436
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
327
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 327 bearers of the surname Petroni in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 61436th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Petroni, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.3%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Petroni
The surname Petroni originates from Italy and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Italian word "pietra," meaning "stone" or "rock," and is believed to have originated as a surname denoting a person's occupation or a topographical feature associated with their place of residence.
The name Petroni was first recorded in the regions of Tuscany and Umbria in central Italy. It is possible that the surname was initially used to refer to individuals who lived near rocky areas or worked as stonemasons or quarry workers.
In the 13th century, the name Petroni appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, including the Caleffo Vecchio, a collection of documents from the city of Siena. This suggests that the name had already established itself in the region by that time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Petroni can be found in the Florentine Codex, a 16th-century manuscript that documented the history and culture of the Nahua people in central Mexico. The manuscript mentions a Franciscan friar named Toribio de Petroni, who participated in the Spanish conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname Petroni. One such person was Girolamo Petroni (1575-1635), an Italian painter and engraver from Siena who was known for his religious and mythological works.
Another prominent figure was Stefano Petroni (1857-1947), an Italian geologist and paleontologist who made significant contributions to the study of fossil mollusks and the stratigraphy of the Apennine Mountains.
In the literary world, Guido Petroni (1896-1975) was an Italian novelist and poet who explored themes of love, existentialism, and the human condition in his works.
The surname Petroni also has connections to the legal profession. Giuseppe Petroni (1842-1909) was an Italian jurist and politician who served as the Minister of Justice in the late 19th century.
Finally, in the field of sports, Mario Petroni (1888-1957) was an Italian football player and manager who played for several Italian clubs and coached the national team between 1925 and 1928.
These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have carried the surname Petroni throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence in Italian culture and society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Petroni
Among Census respondents with the surname Petroni, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.3%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Petroni 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 Petroni surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.7%
- Hispanic or Latino7.3%
- Two or more races2.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Petroni 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 | #61,436 | #61,436 | 0.0% |
| Count | 327 | 327 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Petroni bearers went from 327 to 327 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #61,436 to #61,436.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Petroni
FAQ
Petroni surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Petroni?
The surname Petroni holds position #61,436 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 377 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Petroni surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Petroni, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.3%) and Two or More Races (2.1%). 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.