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

Raffa, 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 Raffa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raffa in America

Raffa is the 22069th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raffa surname appeared 1,174 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 Raffa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raffa 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 Raffa

The surname RAFFA has its origins in Italy, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "raffa," which means "a grapevine shoot" or "a tendril." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with those involved in viticulture or winemaking.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname RAFFA can be found in the 14th century, when it appeared in historical documents from the region of Tuscany. In these records, the name was often spelled as "Raffa" or "Raffi," indicating its connection to the Italian language.

During the Renaissance period, the RAFFA name gained prominence in various parts of Italy, particularly in regions known for their wine production, such as Tuscany and Umbria. Several notable figures bearing this surname emerged during this time, including the artist and architect Gian Battista Raffa (1533-1604), whose work can be seen in various churches and palaces across Italy.

In the 17th century, the RAFFA name appeared in several significant historical documents, including the "Libro d'Oro della Nobiltà Italiana" (Book of Gold of Italian Nobility), which recorded noble families and their lineages. This suggests that some branches of the RAFFA family held a prominent social status during this period.

One of the most famous figures associated with the RAFFA surname was the Italian composer and violinist Antonio Raffa (1749-1801), who was renowned for his contributions to the classical music scene in Naples during the late 18th century.

Another notable individual was the Italian politician and lawyer Vincenzo Raffa (1829-1902), who served as a member of the Italian Parliament and played a significant role in the unification of Italy during the Risorgimento movement.

In the 20th century, the RAFFA name gained further recognition with individuals such as the Italian writer and journalist Piero Raffa (1924-2007), who was known for his works on literature and cultural topics.

While the surname RAFFA is most prevalent in Italy, it has also spread to other regions over time due to migration and diaspora. Today, individuals bearing this surname can be found in various parts of Europe, as well as in countries with significant Italian communities, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raffa

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

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

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

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