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

Tomei, 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 Tomei surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tomei in America

Tomei is the 24090th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tomei surname appeared 1,045 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 Tomei.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tomei 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 Tomei

The surname Tomei originates from Italy, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It likely emerged in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto, where it was derived from the Italian word "tomeo," meaning "tournament" or "joust." This connection suggests that the name may have initially been bestowed upon individuals who excelled in these knightly contests or were associated with such events.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Tomei surname can be found in the historical records of Venice, dating back to the 13th century. The name appears in a document from 1276, referencing a certain "Tommaso Tomei," who was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city.

During the Renaissance era, the Tomei family gained considerable prominence in Florence, where they were renowned for their wealth and influence. Historical records from the 15th century mention several members of the Tomei clan, including Battista Tomei (1442-1514), a skilled architect who contributed to the design of various churches and palaces in the city.

In the 16th century, the Tomei name appears in connection with the town of Torrechiara, located in the Emilia-Romagna region. Records from this time indicate that the Tomei family held significant landholdings and held a position of authority in the local community.

One notable figure bearing the Tomei surname was Giovanni Tomei (1564-1628), a Italian composer and organist who served at the Basilica of San Marco in Venice. His compositions, particularly his sacred works, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime and contributed to the rich musical heritage of the Venetian Republic.

Another individual of historical significance was Girolamo Tomei (1695-1772), an Italian painter and engraver from Bologna. His works, which often depicted religious subjects and landscapes, were highly regarded and can be found in various art collections throughout Italy.

In more recent times, the actress Marisa Tomei (born 1964) has brought renewed attention to the Tomei surname. Her Academy Award-winning performance in the 1992 film "My Cousin Vinny" cemented her place in Hollywood history and showcased the enduring legacy of this Italian surname on the global stage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tomei

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

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

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

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