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

Porcaro, 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 Porcaro surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Porcaro in America

Porcaro is the 16809th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Porcaro surname appeared 1,698 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 Porcaro.

We can also compare 2010 data for Porcaro 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 Porcaro

The surname Porcaro originated in Italy, specifically in the central region of Lazio. It is believed to have emerged sometime around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Italian word "porcaro," which means "swineherd" or "pig keeper." This suggests that the name likely originated as an occupational surname, referring to an individual whose job involved tending to pigs or swine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Porcaro name can be found in a document from the city of Rome dated 1240, which mentions a certain "Giovanni Porcaro." This indicates that the name was already in use by the mid-13th century in the region surrounding the Italian capital.

In the 15th century, the Porcaro family gained notoriety in Rome when Stefano Porcaro (c. 1405-1453) led a failed conspiracy against Pope Nicholas V in an attempt to establish a republican government in the city. Although the plot was ultimately foiled, and Stefano was executed, this event showcased the prominent standing of the Porcaro family during the Renaissance period.

Another notable bearer of the Porcaro surname was the Italian painter and architect Giulio Porcari (c. 1550-1615), who was active in Rome during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Some of his works can still be found in various churches and palaces throughout the city.

Moving forward to the 19th century, Giuseppe Porcaro (1806-1873) was an Italian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Italian Parliament during the early years of the unified Kingdom of Italy.

In more recent times, one of the most famous individuals with the Porcaro surname is the American drummer and songwriter Jeff Porcaro (1954-1992), who was a founding member of the rock band Toto and collaborated with numerous other prominent artists throughout his career.

While the Porcaro name has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, where it is now found among Italian-American communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the central Italian region of Lazio and the occupation of pig keeping or tending swine.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Porcaro

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

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

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

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