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

Ritacca, 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 Ritacca surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ritacca in America

Ritacca is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ritacca surname appeared 106 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 Ritacca.

The history of the last name Ritacca

The surname RITACCA is of Italian origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the region of Calabria, located in the southern part of the Italian peninsula.

One theory suggests that the name RITACCA is derived from the Latin word "ritacca," which means "a small piece of land" or "a plot of land." This could indicate that the earliest bearers of this surname were landowners or farmers in the Calabrian region.

Another possibility is that RITACCA is a variant of the Italian word "ritta," meaning "upright" or "erect." This could imply that the name was initially given as a nickname to someone with a straight or upright posture.

Historical records from the 14th century mention a family by the name of RITACCA residing in the town of Reggio Calabria. These early references provide evidence of the surname's existence and its geographical concentration in southern Italy.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname RITACCA was Giovanni RITACCA, a nobleman who lived in the late 15th century. He was known for his involvement in local politics and his patronage of the arts in Calabria.

During the 16th century, the RITACCA family gained prominence in the town of Catanzaro, where they were influential landowners and merchants. Prominent members included Antonio RITACCA (1524-1598), a successful trader, and his son, Giacomo RITACCA (1560-1632), who was a respected magistrate in the region.

In the 17th century, the RITACCA surname appeared in the records of the nearby town of Cosenza. One notable figure was Maria RITACCA (1612-1688), a renowned philanthropist who dedicated her life to helping the poor and establishing charitable institutions.

As the RITACCA family spread throughout southern Italy, variations in the spelling of the surname emerged, such as RITACCHI, RITACCHIO, and RITACCA. These variations reflect the regional dialects and linguistic differences within Italy.

In the 19th century, a branch of the RITACCA family settled in the city of Naples, where they established themselves as successful merchants and businessmen. One of the most notable individuals from this period was Carlo RITACCA (1832-1901), a renowned artist and sculptor whose works can be found in several churches and museums in Naples.

Throughout history, the surname RITACCA has been associated with various professions, including landowners, merchants, artists, and civil servants, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ritacca

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

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

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

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