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

Spinelli, 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 Spinelli surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Spinelli in America

Spinelli is the 6384th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spinelli surname appeared 5,332 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Spinelli.

We can also compare 2010 data for Spinelli 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 Spinelli

The surname Spinelli originates from Italy, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "spinello," which means "little thorn" or "briar." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname for someone with a prickly personality or appearance.

The earliest recorded instances of the Spinelli name can be traced back to the 12th century in the region of Tuscany. In 1191, a document from the city of Florence mentioned a certain "Ildebrandinus Spinelli," indicating the presence of the surname in that area.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Spinelli family gained prominence and wealth in Florence, with several members holding important positions in the local government and banking industry. One notable figure was Tommaso Spinelli (1324-1369), a wealthy merchant and banker who served as the Gonfalonier of Justice, one of the highest offices in the Florentine Republic.

The Spinelli name also appeared in other parts of Italy, such as Rome and Naples. In the 15th century, a branch of the family settled in the Kingdom of Naples, where they acquired noble titles and landholdings. One of the most famous members from this lineage was Niccolò Spinelli (1456-1535), a renowned humanist scholar and diplomat who served as the ambassador of Naples to the Holy Roman Empire.

Another significant figure in Spinelli history was Urbano Spinelli (1737-1823), an Italian prelate who was appointed as the Archbishop of Genoa in 1793. He played a crucial role in the negotiations between the Papal States and the French Republic during the upheavals of the French Revolution.

In the realm of art and literature, the Spinelli name is associated with the Italian painter Niccolò di Pietro Gerini, also known as Niccolò Spinelli (active in the 14th century), who was renowned for his frescoes in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence.

Beyond Italy, the Spinelli surname can also be found in other parts of Europe and the Americas, likely due to migration and intermarriage over the centuries. However, the name's origins and earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the Italian peninsula, particularly in the regions of Tuscany and Naples.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Spinelli

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

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

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

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