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

Purpura, 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 Purpura surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Purpura in America

Purpura is the 18676th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Purpura surname appeared 1,472 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 Purpura.

We can also compare 2010 data for Purpura 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 Purpura

The surname Purpura is believed to have originated in Italy during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "purpura," which means "purple" and was likely initially used as a nickname for someone who dyed or traded in purple cloth or dyes.

The earliest recorded instances of the Purpura surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various Italian regions, such as Tuscany and Lombardy. In some cases, the name appears in historical documents with variations in spelling, such as Purpora or Porporato.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Purpura was Giovanni Purpura, a merchant from Florence who lived in the late 13th century. Records indicate that he was involved in the trade of luxury goods, including dyed fabrics.

Another notable figure was Pietro Purpura, a philosopher and scholar from Pavia, who lived in the 15th century. He authored several treatises on philosophy and logic, which were widely studied in universities across Europe during the Renaissance period.

In the 16th century, the Purpura family established itself in Naples, where they became prominent members of the local nobility. One of the most renowned members was Antonio Purpura (1543-1616), a renowned architect who contributed to the design of several churches and palaces in Naples and its surrounding areas.

During the 17th century, a branch of the Purpura family settled in Sicily, where they became involved in the production and trade of silk and other textile products. One of the most prominent figures from this branch was Vincenzo Purpura (1622-1699), a successful silk merchant who established a thriving business in Palermo.

Another noteworthy individual was Girolamo Purpura (1769-1834), a lawyer and judge from Naples who played a significant role in the legal reforms implemented during the Napoleonic era in the Kingdom of Naples.

While the surname Purpura has its roots in Italy, over the centuries, it has spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Italian immigration. However, the name's origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in Italian history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Purpura

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

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

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

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