Ripa
A surname derived from a place name, likely an Italian location.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 857 Americans carry the last name Ripa. That puts it at #31,184 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.25 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 399,947 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ripa surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
857
1 in 399,947
Census rank
#31,184
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
744
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 744 bearers of the surname Ripa in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.25 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 31184th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ripa, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ripa
The surname Ripa has its origins in Italy, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Italian word "ripa," which means "river bank" or "shore." This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive term for individuals who lived near a river or coastal area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ripa can be found in the historic city of Rome. In the 13th century, there was a prominent family known as the Ripa, who owned land and properties along the banks of the Tiber River. This family played a significant role in the political and economic affairs of Rome during that era.
The name Ripa also appears in several Italian manuscripts and records from the 14th and 15th centuries. For example, there are mentions of individuals with the surname Ripa in the tax records of the Republic of Venice, indicating their presence in that region.
One notable figure associated with the name Ripa was Giovanni Francesco Ripa (1560-1622), an Italian painter and architect from the late Renaissance period. He was known for his work on various churches and palaces in Rome, including his contributions to the design of St. Peter's Basilica.
Another prominent individual with the surname Ripa was Cesare Ripa (c. 1555-c. 1625), an Italian writer and iconographer. He is best known for his influential work, "Iconologia," which was a comprehensive guide to the symbolic representation of human qualities, virtues, and vices in art.
In the 17th century, there was a family with the name Ripa who owned a significant estate near the town of Siena, in the Tuscany region of Italy. This family was known for their involvement in the local wine industry and their patronage of the arts.
The name Ripa can also be found in various place names throughout Italy, such as Ripa Teatina, a town in the Abruzzo region, and Ripa Presso Tione, a village in the Trentino-Alto Adige region. These place names likely originated from their proximity to rivers or other bodies of water, reflecting the meaning of the word "ripa."
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname Ripa, including:
1. Matteo Ripa (1682-1746), an Italian missionary and explorer who traveled to China in the 18th century.
2. Antonio Ripa (1718-1799), an Italian sculptor and architect known for his work in Rome and Naples.
3. Gian Francesco Ripa (1655-1726), an Italian painter and engraver who worked in Rome and Naples.
4. Ludovico Ripa (1500-1565), an Italian humanist and philosopher who taught at the University of Pavia.
5. Giambattista Ripa (1622-1685), an Italian mathematician and astronomer who made contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ripa
Among Census respondents with the surname Ripa, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Ripa bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Ripa surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.4%
- Hispanic or Latino4.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander4.2%
- Two or more races2.0%
- Black or African American0.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Ripa surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #31,184 | #31,184 | 0.0% |
| Count | 744 | 744 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Ripa bearers went from 744 to 744 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #31,184 to #31,184.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Ripa
FAQ
Ripa surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Ripa?
The surname Ripa holds position #31,184 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 857 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.25 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Ripa surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ripa, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.