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

Vassallo, 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 Vassallo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vassallo in America

Vassallo is the 10050th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vassallo surname appeared 3,205 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Vassallo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vassallo 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 Vassallo

The surname Vassallo originated in Italy, specifically in the regions of Sicily and Calabria, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Latin word "vassallus," which means "vassal" or "feudal tenant." This name was likely given to individuals who held land or property under a lord or nobleman.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Vassallo can be traced back to the 12th century in Sicily. One notable example is the Vassallo family from the town of Modica, who were prominent landowners and nobles during the medieval era. Their coat of arms, which featured a lion rampant, is still visible on various buildings and monuments in the region.

In the 13th century, the name Vassallo appeared in several historical records, including the Angevin registers, which documented landholdings and fiefdoms in southern Italy during the reign of the Angevin dynasty. One notable individual from this period was Guglielmo Vassallo, a knight and landowner who fought in the Sicilian Vespers revolt against the French in 1282.

Over the centuries, the surname Vassallo spread to other parts of Italy and even beyond. In the 15th century, a branch of the family settled in Malta, where the name became prominent among the local nobility and ruling class. One of the most famous Maltese individuals with this surname was Vincenzo Vassallo (1629-1696), a renowned architect and military engineer who designed several fortifications and buildings on the island.

In the 17th century, a Vassallo family from Sicily emigrated to Spain, where they established themselves in the region of Andalusia. One notable member of this branch was Ignacio Vassallo y Candela (1686-1762), a renowned painter and sculptor who worked in the Baroque style.

Another notable individual with the surname Vassallo was Gabriele Vassallo (1828-1909), an Italian politician and journalist who played a significant role in the Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification and independence from foreign rule. He served as a deputy in the Italian parliament and was a prominent advocate for the rights of the Sicilian people.

Throughout history, the surname Vassallo has been associated with nobility, landowners, and influential figures in various fields, including architecture, art, politics, and military service. While the name has its roots in medieval Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns and historical connections of the Vassallo families.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vassallo

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

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

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

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