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

Provenza, 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 Provenza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Provenza in America

Provenza is the 43811th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Provenza surname appeared 492 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 Provenza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Provenza 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 Provenza

The surname Provenza has its origins in Italy, specifically in the region of Tuscany. It first emerged in the late Middle Ages, likely deriving from the Italian phrase "di Provenza," meaning "from Provence." This suggests that the name was initially a locational surname, referring to individuals who hailed from the region of Provence in southern France.

During the Middle Ages, the movement of people between Italy and France was not uncommon, particularly among merchants, artisans, and religious figures. It is possible that the name Provenza was adopted by Italian families who had ties to Provence, either through trade or migration.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Provenza appears in the Florentine tax records of the 14th century. These documents mention a family with the surname Provenzali, which is a variant spelling of Provenza. This suggests that the name had already gained a foothold in Tuscany by that time.

In the 15th century, a notable figure with the surname Provenza was Giovanni Provenza, a Florentine painter born around 1430. His works can be found in various churches and museums in Italy, showcasing the artistic talent associated with this surname during the Renaissance period.

Another individual of note was Pietro Provenza, a scholar and humanist who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was known for his contributions to the study of classical literature and his involvement in the intellectual circles of Renaissance Italy.

In the 17th century, the name Provenza was linked to a prominent family in the city of Siena. The Provenza family played a significant role in the political and cultural life of the city, with several members holding influential positions in the local government and patronizing the arts.

As the centuries passed, the Provenza surname continued to be associated with various notable figures across Italy. For example, in the 19th century, Giuseppe Provenza was a renowned architect from Naples who designed several important buildings in the city.

Throughout its history, the surname Provenza has maintained its connection to its Italian roots, while also carrying the influence of its potential French origins from the region of Provence. The name has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, and political figures, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical fabric of Italy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Provenza

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!