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

Scalise, 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 Scalise surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Scalise in America

Scalise is the 9186th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Scalise surname appeared 3,551 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Scalise.

We can also compare 2010 data for Scalise 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 Scalise

The surname Scalise has its origins in Italy, where it first emerged during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Italian word "scalise," which means "step" or "stair," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this surname may have lived near a staircase or a stepped area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Scalise surname dates back to the 13th century in Sicily, where it appears in various historical documents. The name was particularly prevalent in the towns and villages surrounding the city of Palermo, indicating that this region may have been the initial epicenter of the Scalise lineage.

During the Renaissance period, the Scalise name gained prominence in several parts of Italy, particularly in Naples and the surrounding areas. Historical records from this time period mention individuals with the Scalise surname holding positions of importance within the local communities, such as merchants, artisans, and landowners.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Scalise name was Girolamo Scalise (1530-1592), a renowned Renaissance painter from Palermo. His works, which were heavily influenced by the Mannerist style, can be found in various churches and galleries throughout Sicily.

As the centuries passed, the Scalise surname continued to spread across Italy, with members of the family establishing themselves in various regions and contributing to the cultural and economic fabric of their respective communities. One such individual was Antonio Scalise (1760-1835), a prominent architect from Naples who played a significant role in the city's urban development during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

During the 19th century, the Scalise name also gained recognition in the literary world with the birth of Vincenzo Scalise (1818-1892), an Italian poet and writer from Palermo. His works, which often celebrated the beauty of his native Sicily, earned him widespread acclaim and a place among the notable literary figures of his time.

Another notable figure with the Scalise surname was Giuseppe Scalise (1879-1958), an Italian-American businessman and philanthropist from Palermo. After immigrating to the United States in the early 20th century, he established a successful import-export business and became known for his philanthropic endeavors, particularly in supporting educational initiatives for Italian-American communities.

While the Scalise surname has its roots firmly planted in Italy, over the centuries, it has also been carried to various parts of the world by Italian emigrants, ensuring that the name continues to have a global presence and a rich tapestry of cultural influences.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Scalise

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

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

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

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