Savoca
Surname of Italian origin derived from a place name likely referring to a location or town.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 788 Americans carry the last name Savoca. That puts it at #33,990 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.23 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 434,967 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Savoca 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
788
1 in 434,967
Census rank
#33,990
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
669
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 669 bearers of the surname Savoca in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.23 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 33990th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Savoca, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Savoca
The surname Savoca has its origins in Italy, specifically in the regions of Sicily and Calabria. It is believed to have originated during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 11th or 12th century.
The name Savoca is thought to be derived from the Italian word "savoca," which means "a place where the soil is filled with gravel or small stones." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with a particular geographic location or settlement characterized by its rocky terrain.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Savoca can be found in the Sicilian records of the 14th century. It appears in a document dated 1362, which refers to a landowner named Guglielmo Savoca from the town of Savoca, located in the province of Messina, Sicily.
The town of Savoca itself has a rich history dating back to the ancient Greek and Roman periods. It is believed that the name Savoca may have originated from the Greek word "savakos," which means "rocky place," further reinforcing the connection between the name and the region's terrain.
In the 15th century, the Savoca family gained prominence in Sicily, and several members held influential positions within the local nobility. One notable figure was Antonino Savoca, who served as the mayor of Savoca in the late 1400s.
During the Renaissance period, the Savoca surname spread beyond Sicily and Calabria to other parts of Italy. In the 16th century, a branch of the family settled in Naples, where they became successful merchants and traders.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname Savoca. One such figure was Giuseppe Savoca (1673-1743), a renowned Sicilian painter known for his religious works and frescoes adorning churches across Sicily.
Another prominent individual was Niccolò Savoca (1820-1892), a Italian mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and the study of comets.
In the 20th century, the Savoca surname gained international recognition through the work of Italian-American filmmaker and screenwriter Giovanni Savoca (1937-2018), best known for his award-winning films exploring themes of immigration and cultural identity.
While the surname Savoca is relatively rare outside of Italy, it continues to hold a strong connection to its origins in the rocky landscapes of Sicily and Calabria, where it first emerged centuries ago.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Savoca
Among Census respondents with the surname Savoca, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Savoca 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 Savoca surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.7%
- Hispanic or Latino3.1%
- Two or more races1.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Savoca 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 | #33,990 | #33,990 | 0.0% |
| Count | 669 | 669 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.23 | 0.23 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Savoca bearers went from 669 to 669 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #33,990 to #33,990.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Savoca
FAQ
Savoca surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Savoca?
The surname Savoca holds position #33,990 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 788 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.23 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Savoca surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Savoca, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.1%). 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.