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

Rapino, 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 Rapino surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rapino in America

Rapino is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rapino surname appeared 104 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 Rapino.

The history of the last name Rapino

The surname Rapino has its origins in Italy, specifically in the region of Abruzzo. It likely emerged during the medieval period, between the 11th and 13th centuries. The name is believed to be derived from the Italian word "rapina," which means "robbery" or "plunder." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was involved in such activities or lived in an area known for these occurrences.

Early records indicate that the name was prevalent in the town of Rapino, located in the province of Chieti in Abruzzo. The town's name is thought to have been derived from the same root as the surname, further solidifying the connection between the two. The first documented instances of the surname Rapino can be traced back to the 13th century in various municipal records and legal documents from the region.

One notable early reference to the name Rapino can be found in the "Codice Diplomatico Molisano," a collection of medieval documents from the Molise region, which borders Abruzzo. The text mentions a certain "Petrus de Rapino" in the year 1257, suggesting that the name was already established by that time.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Rapino has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest is Giovanni Rapino, a 14th-century nobleman from the town of Rapino, who served as a military commander under the Kingdom of Naples. Another individual of note is Antonio Rapino (1542-1612), a Renaissance painter and sculptor from the city of L'Aquila, known for his works in churches and noble residences throughout Abruzzo.

In the 19th century, Vincenzo Rapino (1820-1887) was a prominent Italian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Italian parliament and played a significant role in the unification of Italy. Around the same time, Giuseppe Rapino (1838-1915) was a renowned Italian botanist and professor at the University of Naples, contributing significantly to the study of plant taxonomy and ecology.

Lastly, in more recent history, Tommaso Rapino (1920-2005) was a respected Italian journalist and author, known for his work as a war correspondent during World War II and his subsequent publications on Italian history and culture.

While the surname Rapino is not among the most common in Italy, it continues to hold a strong presence in the Abruzzo region and has been carried by several notable figures throughout its long history, reflecting its deep-rooted connections to the area and its cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rapino

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

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 Rapino 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.

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

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

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