2000
#121,780
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 131
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Sanfillipo
An Italian surname indicating one's ancestors came from San Filippo, a place name.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 134 Americans carry the last name Sanfillipo. That puts it at #144,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,557,868 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sanfillipo 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
134
1 in 2,557,868
Census rank
#144,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
117
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 117 bearers of the surname Sanfillipo in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 144270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sanfillipo, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sanfillipo
The surname SANFILLIPO is of Italian origin, specifically from the region of Sicily. It is believed to have emerged sometime during the Middle Ages, around the 11th or 12th century. The name is derived from the Italian phrase "San Filippo," which translates to "Saint Philip." This suggests that the surname may have been adopted by individuals who lived near a church or monastery dedicated to Saint Philip.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SANFILLIPO can be found in a document from the city of Palermo, dated 1276. The record mentions a certain "Nicolo SANFILLIPO," indicating that the name was already in use by that time. Additionally, variations of the spelling, such as "SANFILIPPO" and "SANFILIPO," have been documented in various historical records from Sicily and other parts of Italy.
In the 15th century, a notable individual named Giovanni SANFILLIPO (1425-1490) was a prominent merchant and banker in the city of Messina. His successful business ventures and wealth allowed him to establish a family estate in the surrounding countryside. This estate was known as the "Villa SANFILLIPO," further solidifying the name's association with the region.
During the 16th century, the SANFILLIPO surname gained recognition with the birth of Antonio SANFILLIPO (1548-1624), a renowned scholar and philosopher from Palermo. Antonio's writings on ethics and metaphysics earned him significant acclaim throughout Italy and beyond. His works were widely studied and discussed in academic circles of the time.
Another noteworthy figure was Vincenzo SANFILLIPO (1673-1744), a celebrated architect from Catania. Vincenzo designed several notable buildings in his hometown, including the Church of Sant'Agata al Borgo and the Palazzo Biscari. His architectural style blended elements of Baroque and Neoclassical design, leaving a lasting impact on the city's landscape.
In the 19th century, Giuseppe SANFILLIPO (1812-1878) was a prominent political figure and advocate for Sicilian independence. As a member of the Sicilian Parliament, he actively campaigned for the island's autonomy and played a role in the movement that eventually led to the unification of Italy.
Throughout its history, the surname SANFILLIPO has maintained strong ties to its Sicilian roots, even as individuals bearing the name have migrated to other parts of Italy and beyond. The name's origins and association with Saint Philip have contributed to its enduring presence and recognition within Italian culture and society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sanfillipo
Among Census respondents with the surname Sanfillipo, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Sanfillipo 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 Sanfillipo surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.3% · 108
- Hispanic or Latino5.1% · 6
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Sanfillipo
Sanfillipo 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
#117,480
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 148
+17 bearers (+13.0%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 4,300 places
2020
#144,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
-31 bearers (-20.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 26,790 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #121,780 | 131 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #117,480 | 148 | 0.05 | +17 bearers (+13.0%) | Up 4,300 places |
| 2020 | #144,270 | 117 | 0.04 | -31 bearers (-20.9%) | Down 26,790 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 Sanfillipo 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 | #117,480 | #144,270 | -22.8% |
| Count | 148 | 117 | -20.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -21.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Sanfillipo bearers went from 148 to 117 (-20.9% change). The surname moved down 26,790 positions in the national ranking, going from #117,480 to #144,270.
FAQ
Sanfillipo surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Sanfillipo?
Name Census estimates that about 134 living Americans carry the surname Sanfillipo. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,557,868 residents.
How common is Sanfillipo?
Sanfillipo ranks #144,270 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 117 people with the surname Sanfillipo. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (134), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Sanfillipo.
Has Sanfillipo become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Sanfillipo went from 148 recorded bearers to 117. That is a decrease of 31 (-20.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #117,480 to #144,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Sanfillipo?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sanfillipo, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). 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 Sanfillipo in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.3% (108 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Sanfillipo appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.3%), Hispanic (5.1%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). 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 Sanfillipo (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 Sanfillipo mean?
An Italian surname indicating one's ancestors came from San Filippo, a place name. 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 Sanfillipo (0.04 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 common is the surname Sanfillipo?
You can see how many people are called Sanfillipo on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.