Spezza
Derived from Italian "spezzare" meaning to break or divide.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Spezza. That puts it at #147,253 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Spezza surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#147,253
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
112
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 112 bearers of the surname Spezza in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147253rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Spezza, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.3%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (4.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Spezza
The surname SPEZZA is believed to have originated in Italy, specifically in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto, during the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Italian word "spezza," which means "to break" or "to split." It may have initially referred to someone who worked as a wood splitter or someone who broke rocks for construction purposes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SPEZZA can be found in a document from the Venetian archives, dated 1349. The document mentions a "Nicolo Spezza," who was a merchant in the city of Venice. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the Veneto region by the mid-14th century.
In the 15th century, the name SPEZZA appeared in several historical records from the city of Milan, which was part of the Duchy of Milan at the time. One notable example is a registry from 1472 that lists a "Giovanni Spezza" as a member of the city's guild of stonemasons.
During the Renaissance period, the SPEZZA name gained prominence in the arts. A famous painter from the Venetian school, known as Girolamo Spezza (c. 1520-1592), was renowned for his religious works and portraits. His paintings can be found in various churches and museums throughout Italy.
In the 17th century, a branch of the SPEZZA family settled in the town of Bergamo, located in the Lombardy region. One notable member of this branch was Carlo Spezza (1619-1681), a celebrated architect who designed several churches and palaces in Bergamo and the surrounding areas.
Another prominent figure with the SPEZZA surname was Antonio Spezza (1756-1832), a Italian composer and violinist who lived during the Classical period. He was born in Verona and gained recognition for his operas and chamber music compositions.
While the surname SPEZZA originated in northern Italy, it eventually spread to other parts of the country and beyond. However, its historical roots and earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the regions of Lombardy and Veneto, where it emerged as a surname during the Middle Ages.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Spezza
Among Census respondents with the surname Spezza, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.3%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (4.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Spezza bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Spezza surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.3%
- Unknown or suppressed6.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native4.5%
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Spezza
FAQ
Spezza surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Spezza?
The surname Spezza holds position #147,253 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Spezza surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Spezza, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.3%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (4.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.