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

Scipio, 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 Scipio surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Scipio in America

Scipio is the 25272nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Scipio surname appeared 980 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 Scipio.

We can also compare 2010 data for Scipio 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 Scipio

The surname "Scipio" is of ancient Roman origin, derived from the cognomen (hereditary nickname) of the prestigious Scipio family. The name is believed to have originated from the Latin word "scipio," meaning a staff or walking stick, a symbol of authority used by Roman magistrates.

The Scipio family was one of the most celebrated and influential patrician families in ancient Rome, playing a crucial role in the Punic Wars against Carthage. The most renowned members of this family include Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major (236-183 BC), the celebrated Roman general who defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama, and his grandson Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Minor (185-129 BC), who later completed the destruction of Carthage.

The name "Scipio" is prominently mentioned in various ancient Roman historical records and literary works, including the writings of Livy, Polybius, and Plutarch. These sources provide detailed accounts of the Scipio family's exploits and their significant contributions to Roman history.

In the Middle Ages, the name "Scipio" was occasionally used as a given name or surname by individuals with connections to Italy or the Roman Empire. Notable bearers of this name include Scipio Sighele (1868-1913), an Italian criminologist and sociologist, and Scipio Africanus Jones (1863-1928), an American lawyer and civil rights leader.

Throughout history, several other notable figures have borne the surname "Scipio," including:

1. Metellus Scipio (c. 98-46 BC), a Roman politician and military leader during the Roman Republic.
2. Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica (c. 185-132 BC), a Roman statesman and jurist.
3. Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica (c. 95-46 BC), a Roman general and politician.
4. Scipio Barbatus (c. 290-211 BC), a Roman politician and military commander.
5. Scipio Aemilianus (c. 185-129 BC), a Roman general and statesman, also known as Scipio Africanus Minor.

While the surname "Scipio" is relatively rare today, it continues to be borne by individuals with ancestral ties to ancient Rome or those who have chosen to adopt this historic name as a tribute to the renowned Scipio family.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Scipio

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

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

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

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