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

Scalese, 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 Scalese surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Scalese in America

Scalese is the 52037th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Scalese surname appeared 399 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 Scalese.

We can also compare 2010 data for Scalese to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Scalese

The surname Scalese originated in Italy, specifically in the southern regions of Campania and Calabria. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "scala," meaning "staircase" or "ladder." This suggests that the name may have initially belonged to someone who lived near a prominent staircase or worked as a builder or carpenter specializing in staircases.

The earliest known record of the surname Scalese can be traced back to the 14th century in the town of Amalfi, located in the province of Salerno, Campania. In a document dated 1387, a certain Giovanni Scalese was mentioned as a merchant involved in the trade of silk and spices along the Amalfi Coast.

In the 15th century, the surname appeared in various records from the city of Naples, where several members of the Scalese family were noted as skilled artisans and craftsmen. One notable figure was Tommaso Scalese (1435-1502), a renowned sculptor and architect who contributed to the construction of several churches and palaces in Naples.

During the 16th century, the Scalese surname gained prominence in the region of Calabria, particularly in the town of Reggio Calabria. In 1562, a certain Girolamo Scalese was appointed as a judge in the local court system, indicating the family's elevated social status.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Scalese family settled in the town of Scalea, located in the province of Cosenza, Calabria. It is believed that the town's name, which means "ladder" or "stairs" in Italian, may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Scalese:

1. Antonio Scalese (1592-1658), a Neapolitan painter known for his religious works and portraits.
2. Giacomo Scalese (1725-1798), a philosopher and theologian from Reggio Calabria, who authored several influential treatises on ethics and morality.
3. Maria Scalese (1819-1892), an Italian opera singer who performed in major theaters across Europe during the 19th century.
4. Giuseppe Scalese (1879-1949), a politician and lawyer from Sicily who served as a member of the Italian Parliament.
5. Dante Scalese (1919-2003), an Italian-American sculptor and artist renowned for his public installations and monuments in New York City.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Scalese surname throughout history, highlighting its rich cultural and artistic heritage rooted in the Italian regions of Campania and Calabria.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Scalese

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

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 Scalese 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Scalese has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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

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

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