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

Sforza, 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 Sforza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sforza in America

Sforza is the 27331st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sforza surname appeared 884 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 Sforza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sforza 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 Sforza

The surname Sforza originated in Italy during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Italian word "sforzo" meaning "force" or "strength." The name likely referred to someone who was physically strong or had a forceful personality.

The earliest recorded use of the Sforza name dates back to the 13th century in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. The name is associated with the powerful Sforza family, who ruled the Duchy of Milan from the mid-15th to early 16th centuries.

One of the most notable figures in the Sforza family was Francesco Sforza (1401-1466), who became the Duke of Milan in 1450. He was a skilled military leader and consolidated the Sforza family's control over the region. His son, Galeazzo Maria Sforza (1444-1476), succeeded him as Duke of Milan.

Another prominent member of the Sforza family was Ludovico Sforza (1452-1508), known as "Il Moro" (The Moor), who effectively ruled Milan as regent for his nephew, Gian Galeazzo Sforza (1469-1494). Ludovico was a patron of the arts and employed artists such as Leonardo da Vinci.

The Sforza name is also associated with the Sforza Castle in Milan, a massive citadel built by the Sforza family in the 15th century. The castle's impressive architecture and fortifications were a symbol of the family's power and influence.

Other notable individuals with the surname Sforza include Sforza Pallavicino (1518-1585), an Italian poet and historian, and Muzio Attendolo Sforza (1369-1424), an Italian condottiero (mercenary leader) who was the founder of the Sforza dynasty.

While the Sforza name originated in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and marriage. However, its roots lie firmly in the history of the powerful Sforza family and their influence in the Duchy of Milan during the Renaissance period.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sforza

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

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

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

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