Sommella last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Sommella

A surname of Italian origin referring to a small bell or a bell-ringer.

Sommella, 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 Sommella surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sommella in America

Sommella is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sommella surname appeared 104 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 Sommella.

The history of the last name Sommella

The surname Sommella originated in Italy during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "somma," meaning "sum" or "total," possibly referring to an occupation involving calculations or accounting. Alternatively, it may have originated from a place name, as Italian surnames often stemmed from the name of the town or region where a person's family lived.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sommella surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis, a 12th-century manuscript from the Cava de' Tirreni monastery in Campania, Italy. This document mentions a certain "Petrus Sommella" from the nearby town of Sarno.

In the 13th century, records from the city of Naples mention a nobleman named Guglielmo Sommella (c. 1220-1280), who served as a judge and ambassador for the Kingdom of Naples. He was known for his diplomatic skills and played a crucial role in negotiations between the Italian states and the Holy Roman Empire.

During the Renaissance period, the Sommella family was prominent in the city of Salerno. One notable member was Antonio Sommella (1460-1523), a renowned physician and scholar who taught at the University of Salerno. He wrote several influential treatises on medicine and anatomy, contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge during that era.

In the 17th century, Paolo Sommella (1602-1677) was a renowned architect and engineer from Naples. He designed several notable buildings in the city, including the Church of Santa Maria della Sanità and the Palazzo Sanfelice. His architectural works were characterized by their elegant baroque style and innovative use of materials.

Another notable figure with the Sommella surname was Vincenzo Sommella (1780-1854), a prominent lawyer and politician from the town of Avellino. He played a significant role in the Neapolitan Revolution of 1820, advocating for constitutional reforms and the establishment of a monarchy with limited powers.

While the Sommella surname has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Italian emigration. However, the name remains most prevalent in its country of origin, where it continues to hold historical and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sommella

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

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 Sommella was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 89.42% 93
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 8.65% 9

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.

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

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

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"Sommella last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on September 10, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/sommella-surname-popularity/.

"Sommella last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/sommella-surname-popularity/. Accessed 10 September, 2025

Sommella last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/sommella-surname-popularity/.

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