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

Raffo, 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 Raffo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raffo in America

Raffo is the 36630th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raffo surname appeared 610 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 Raffo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raffo 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 Raffo

The surname Raffo is of Italian origin, traced back to the 14th century in the region of Sicily. It is derived from the Italian word "raffo," meaning "tangled" or "curly," likely referring to someone with curly hair. The name may also be related to the Italian word "raffare," meaning "to snatch" or "to grasp."

During the Middle Ages, the name Raffo appeared in various records and manuscripts from Sicilian towns and villages. One of the earliest known references dates back to 1387, when a certain Antonino Raffo was mentioned in a land registry document from the city of Palermo.

In the 16th century, the name Raffo gained prominence with the birth of Francesco Raffo (1529-1597), a renowned Sicilian architect and sculptor. He is best known for his contributions to the design and construction of several churches and palaces in Palermo, including the Church of San Matteo and the Palazzo Abatellis.

Another notable figure was Girolamo Raffo (1685-1747), a Sicilian painter and engraver whose works adorned numerous churches and noble residences in Palermo and other Sicilian cities. His portraits and religious scenes were highly regarded during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, the Raffo family played a significant role in the Italian Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification and independence. Giuseppe Raffo (1807-1857) was a prominent Sicilian patriot and politician who fought for the unification of Italy under the House of Savoy.

A more recent figure of note was Vincenzo Raffo (1863-1938), an Italian mathematician and academic who made important contributions to the field of algebraic geometry. He held prestigious positions at the University of Palermo and the University of Rome, where he influenced generations of mathematicians.

The surname Raffo has also been found in various historical records and documents from other parts of Italy, suggesting that the name may have spread beyond its Sicilian origins over time. However, its deep roots and cultural significance remain firmly rooted in the island of Sicily.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raffo

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

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

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

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