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

Valente, 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 Valente surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Valente in America

Valente is the 4683rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Valente surname appeared 7,580 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Valente.

We can also compare 2010 data for Valente 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 Valente

The surname Valente has its origins in Italy, and it dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Italian word "valente," which means "valiant" or "courageous." The name likely originated as a nickname or personal description for someone who was considered brave or valorous.

The earliest recorded instances of the Valente surname can be found in historical documents from various regions of Italy, including Tuscany, Lazio, and Campania. One notable example is the mention of a person named Valente in the records of the city of Siena, dating back to the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name Valente appeared in the Florentine Catasto, a census-like document that recorded the names and properties of citizens in Florence and its surrounding areas. This suggests that the Valente family had established roots in Tuscany during that time.

The surname Valente was also present in historical records from other parts of Italy, such as Naples and the surrounding region of Campania. In the 16th century, a nobleman named Giovanni Battista Valente served as a commander in the Neapolitan army.

As the name spread throughout Italy, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged, including Valenti, Valentini, and Valentino. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local customs.

Notable individuals with the surname Valente include:

1. Gabriele Valente (1508-1572), an Italian composer and organist who served at the Vatican during the Renaissance.
2. Domenico Valente (1678-1754), an Italian painter known for his religious works and portraits.
3. Vincenzo Valente (1855-1920), an Italian sculptor and painter who worked in the Neoclassical and Realist styles.
4. Bernardo Valente (1892-1965), an Italian-American painter and illustrator known for his vivid depictions of urban life.
5. Paolo Valente (born 1964), an Italian politician and member of the European Parliament.

Over time, the Valente surname spread beyond Italy, carried by Italian immigrants to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and South America. However, the name's origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of Italy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Valente

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

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

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

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