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

Rago, 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 Rago surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rago in America

Rago is the 14299th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rago surname appeared 2,093 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 Rago.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rago 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 Rago

The surname Rago is of Italian origin, tracing its roots back to the Italian peninsula in the Middle Ages. Its earliest recorded spelling was "Rago," derived from the Latin word "raga," meaning "ray" or "beam." This name was likely given as a descriptive surname to someone with radiant or bright features.

One of the earliest documented instances of the Rago surname can be found in a 13th-century manuscript from the city of Genoa, where a nobleman named Guglielmo Rago was mentioned. The name was also present in the historical records of the Sicilian town of Palermo, where the Rago family had established itself as landowners by the 15th century.

During the Renaissance period, the Rago surname gained prominence in various Italian cities. In Florence, a renowned painter named Antonio Rago (1499-1578) was celebrated for his religious frescoes adorning several churches. Meanwhile, in Venice, the scholar and philosopher Giacomo Rago (1521-1603) made significant contributions to the intellectual discourse of his time.

The Rago surname spread beyond Italy as Italian immigrants settled in different parts of the world. In the late 19th century, Andrea Rago (1862-1938), a skilled craftsman from Naples, immigrated to Argentina and established a successful woodworking business in Buenos Aires, contributing to the local artisan community.

Another notable figure bearing the Rago surname was the Italian-American poet and writer, Gina Rago (1920-2011). Born in New York City to Italian immigrants, her literary works explored themes of identity, immigration, and the experiences of Italian-Americans.

The Rago surname has also been associated with several place names in Italy. For instance, the village of Rago in the province of Lecce, Puglia, is believed to have derived its name from the ancient Latin word "raga," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its linguistic origins.

Throughout history, the Rago surname has left its mark across various fields, from the arts and academia to commerce and literature, reflecting the diverse contributions of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rago

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

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

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

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