Stefani
A Greek surname derived from the given name meaning "crown" or "wreath".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,988 Americans carry the last name Stefani. That puts it at #16,781 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.58 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 172,412 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Stefani 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
2.0K
1 in 172,412
Census rank
#16,781
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,702 bearers of the surname Stefani in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.58 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 16781st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Stefani, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Stefani
The surname Stefani is of Italian origin, stemming from the medieval Italian name Stefano, which is derived from the Greek name Stephanos, meaning "crown" or "wreath." The name first emerged in Italy during the Middle Ages.
The earliest known references to the Stefani surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Italy, including Florence, Genoa, and Venice. It was commonly associated with families or individuals who had connections to the Greek or Byzantine communities present in these areas during that time period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Stefani surname appears in the Florentine registry of taxpayers from 1292, where a certain Gherardo Stefani is listed as a resident of the city. Additionally, a document from 1305 mentions a Niccolò Stefani, a merchant from Genoa who conducted trade with the Byzantine Empire.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the Stefani surname. One prominent figure was Tommaso Stefani (1324-1399), a renowned Italian jurist and legal scholar from Bologna, who was instrumental in the development of canon law during the 14th century.
Another notable Stefani was Agostino Stefani (1603-1668), an Italian painter and etcher from Genoa, known for his religious works and portraits. His etchings, particularly those depicting scenes from the life of Christ, were highly regarded during the Baroque period.
In the 19th century, Vincenzo Stefani (1812-1892), an Italian geologist and paleontologist from Tuscany, made significant contributions to the study of fossils and the geological formations of the Apennine Mountains.
Furthermore, the Stefani surname has been associated with various place names and historical locations in Italy. For instance, the town of Stefano, located in the province of Pavia, is believed to have derived its name from the surname Stefani, likely indicating the presence of a prominent Stefani family in the area.
Throughout history, the Stefani surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Stefano, Stefanini, and Stefanelli, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic evolutions within Italy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Stefani
Among Census respondents with the surname Stefani, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Stefani 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 Stefani surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.5%
- Hispanic or Latino4.6%
- Unknown or suppressed0.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Stefani surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #15,898 | #16,781 | -5.6% |
| Count | 1,680 | 1,702 | 1.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.62 | 0.58 | -6.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Stefani bearers went from 1,680 to 1,702 (+1.3% change). The surname moved down 883 positions in the national ranking, going from #15,898 to #16,781.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Stefani
FAQ
Stefani surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Stefani?
The surname Stefani holds position #16,781 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,988 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.58 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Stefani surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Stefani, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.6%). 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.