2000
#14,809
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,838
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.68
Rare Last name
Rasco
An English occupational surname referring to a person who made or sold rope or thread.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,084 Americans carry the last name Rasco. That puts it at #15,514 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.61 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 164,469 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Rasco surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.1K
1 in 164,469
Census rank
#15,514
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,817 bearers of the surname Rasco in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.61 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15514th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Rasco, the largest self-reported group is White at 69.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (11.3%) and Black (10.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Rasco
The surname RASCO is of Italian origin, with its roots traced back to the region of Tuscany during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "rascio," meaning "a rocky or stony place," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived or originated from a rocky or mountainous area.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the RASCO surname can be found in the Florentine archives, dating back to the 13th century. These records document a family with the surname RASCO residing in the city of Florence during that time period.
In the 14th century, the name RASCO appears in the historic documents of Siena, a city renowned for its medieval architecture and rich cultural heritage. The records indicate that a notable figure named Giovanni RASCO held a prominent position in the city's government during the late 1300s.
The RASCO surname has also been linked to the ancient town of Rascio, located in the province of Pesaro e Urbino, in the Marche region of central Italy. It is possible that the name originated from this location, referring to individuals who hailed from or had ties to this particular town.
Throughout history, several individuals with the RASCO surname have left their mark. One notable example is Francesco RASCO, a renowned sculptor from Florence who lived in the 16th century (c. 1520 - 1588). His works adorned many churches and palaces throughout Italy, showcasing his exceptional talent in the Renaissance art tradition.
Another prominent figure was Antonio RASCO, a military commander who served in the Papal States during the late 17th century (c. 1650 - 1712). He gained recognition for his strategic leadership and valor in various campaigns, contributing to the defense of the papal territories.
In the realm of literature, the poet and playwright Vincenzo RASCO (1760 - 1825) from Naples gained acclaim for his satirical works and comedic plays, which offered insightful commentary on the societal issues of his time.
The RASCO surname also has connections to the island of Sicily, where a noble family bearing this name held significant influence during the 18th and 19th centuries. One notable member was Giuseppe RASCO (1785 - 1868), who served as a magistrate and played a pivotal role in the administration of justice in the region.
While the RASCO surname may not be as widespread today as it once was, its rich history and deep roots in various regions of Italy serve as a testament to the cultural and historical significance of this ancient surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Rasco
Among Census respondents with the surname Rasco, the largest self-reported group is White at 69.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (11.3%) and Black (10.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Rasco bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Rasco surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White69.8% · 1,268
- Hispanic or Latino11.3% · 206
- Black or African American10.8% · 197
- Asian and Pacific Islander4.0% · 73
- Two or more races3.4% · 61
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7% · 12
Timeline
Historical Census data for Rasco
Rasco appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#13,418
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,271
+433 bearers (+23.6%)
Per 100,000 0.77
Rank movement Up 1,391 places
2020
#15,514
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,817
-454 bearers (-20.0%)
Per 100,000 0.61
Rank movement Down 2,096 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #14,809 | 1,838 | 0.68 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #13,418 | 2,271 | 0.77 | +433 bearers (+23.6%) | Up 1,391 places |
| 2020 | #15,514 | 1,817 | 0.61 | -454 bearers (-20.0%) | Down 2,096 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Rasco surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,418 | #15,514 | -15.6% |
| Count | 2,271 | 1,817 | -20.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.77 | 0.61 | -21.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Rasco bearers went from 2,271 to 1,817 (-20.0% change). The surname moved down 2,096 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,418 to #15,514.
FAQ
Rasco surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Rasco?
Name Census estimates that about 2,084 living Americans carry the surname Rasco. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 164,469 residents.
How common is Rasco?
Rasco ranks #15,514 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.61 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,817 people with the surname Rasco. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,084), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.61 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.61 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Rasco.
Has Rasco become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Rasco went from 2,271 recorded bearers to 1,817. That is a decrease of 454 (-20.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #13,418 to #15,514.
What does the Census say about the background of Rasco?
Among Census respondents with the surname Rasco, the largest self-reported group is White at 69.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (11.3%) and Black (10.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Rasco in the 2020 Census, accounting for 69.8% (1,268 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Rasco appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (69.8%), Hispanic (11.3%), Black (10.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Rasco (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Rasco mean?
An English occupational surname referring to a person who made or sold rope or thread. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Rasco (0.61 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Rasco?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.