Tonello last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Tonello

A name of Italian origin indicating a person of small or short stature.

Tonello, 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 Tonello surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tonello in America

Tonello is the 91221st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tonello surname appeared 202 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 Tonello.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tonello 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 91221 94676 -3.72%
Count 202 179 12.07%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.07 0.00%

The history of the last name Tonello

The surname Tonello is of Italian origin, with roots that can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the Veneto region of northern Italy, particularly in the areas around Venice and Padua.

One of the earliest known references to the name Tonello can be found in a document from the 13th century, where it appears as "Tonellus," a Latin diminutive form derived from the Italian word "tonello," meaning a small barrel or cask. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone involved in the production or trade of barrels or casks.

During the Renaissance period, the Tonello family gained prominence in the city of Venice, with several members holding influential positions within the Venetian Republic. One notable figure was Marco Tonello (1525-1598), a successful merchant and diplomat who represented Venice in various diplomatic missions across Europe.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Tonello family settled in the nearby city of Padua, where they became known for their contributions to the arts and academia. Giovanni Battista Tonello (1638-1718) was a renowned painter and fresco artist, whose works can still be admired in various churches and palaces throughout the Veneto region.

Another prominent figure was Antonio Tonello (1745-1823), a renowned physician and professor at the University of Padua. His groundbreaking research in the field of anatomy and physiology earned him widespread recognition and influenced generations of medical students.

As the Tonello family spread across Italy and beyond, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Tonelli, Tonellini, and Tonellato. One notable bearer of these variations was the Italian philosopher and theologian Matteo Tonelli (1505-1586), who played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation and was a vocal opponent of the Protestant Reformation.

In the 19th century, the Tonello name gained international recognition with the success of the Italian opera composer Pietro Tonello (1829-1903), whose works were performed in some of the most prestigious opera houses across Europe.

Throughout its history, the surname Tonello has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artisans, merchants, academics, and artists, all contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Italy and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tonello

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

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 Tonello was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 92.57% 187
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 4.95% 10

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 Tonello has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 92.57% 96.65% -4.31%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 4.95% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Tonello last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on April 25, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/tonello-surname-popularity/.

"Tonello last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/tonello-surname-popularity/. Accessed 25 April, 2025

Tonello last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/tonello-surname-popularity/.

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