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

Spadea, 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 Spadea surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Spadea in America

Spadea is the 62714th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spadea surname appeared 319 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 Spadea.

We can also compare 2010 data for Spadea 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 Spadea

The surname Spadea is of Italian origin and can be traced back to the late medieval period around the 14th century. It is believed to have originated from the region of Campania, particularly the city of Naples and its surrounding areas. The name is derived from the Italian word "spada," which means "sword," suggesting that the original bearers of this surname may have been skilled swordsmen or soldiers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Spadea surname appears in a document from the Angevin dynasty in Naples, dated around 1350. This document mentions a certain Girolamo Spadea, who was a servant in the royal household. The surname is also found in several other historical records from the same region during the 15th and 16th centuries, indicating that the family had established roots in Campania.

During the 16th century, the Spadea name gained prominence in the town of Vico Equense, located on the Sorrento Peninsula near Naples. A notable figure from this period was Gennaro Spadea (1525-1598), a renowned scholar and philosopher who authored several works on ethics and moral philosophy. His writings were widely acclaimed and studied in academic circles across Italy.

In the 17th century, the Spadea family expanded their influence beyond Campania and established branches in other parts of Italy, including Sicily and the Abruzzo region. One noteworthy individual from this era was Antonio Spadea (1637-1706), a talented architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the city of Palermo, Sicily.

As the family continued to grow and spread, the surname underwent some variations in spelling, such as Spadaccino, Spada, and Spadaro. These variations often reflected regional dialects or slight modifications made by different branches of the family over time.

In the 19th century, the Spadea surname gained international recognition with the birth of Giuseppe Spadea (1846-1923), a prominent Italian sculptor. He was renowned for his marble sculptures and worked on numerous commissions for churches and public spaces throughout Italy and beyond.

Another significant figure was Francesco Spadea (1875-1942), an Italian politician and journalist who played a crucial role in the early years of the Fascist movement in Italy. He served as a member of the Italian Parliament and was a staunch supporter of Benito Mussolini's regime.

As the Spadea surname spread across generations and geographical boundaries, it has left its mark on various aspects of history, from academia and architecture to art and politics. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval Italy, its legacy has transcended borders and continues to be carried forward by individuals of Italian descent worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Spadea

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

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

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

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