Vespia last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Vespia

Italian surname possibly derived from the Latin "vespa" meaning wasp.

Vespia, 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 Vespia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vespia in America

Vespia is the 118853rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vespia surname appeared 146 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 Vespia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vespia 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.

20102000Change (%)
Rank1188531182360.52%
Count1461367.09%
Proportion per 100k0.050.050.00%

The history of the last name Vespia

The surname Vespia has its origins in Italy, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "vespa," which means "wasp." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person with a sharp or fiery temperament, likened to the sting of a wasp.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Vespia name can be found in the historical documents of the city of Genoa, dating back to the 13th century. During this time, the name was commonly spelled "Vespiae" or "Vespie," reflecting the local dialect and pronunciation.

As the centuries progressed, the name spread to other regions of Italy, particularly in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto. In the 15th century, a notable figure bearing the name was Giovanni Vespia, a renowned scholar and philosopher from Milan, who lived from 1420 to 1498.

In the 16th century, the Vespia family gained prominence in the city of Verona, where they were involved in the local government and trade. One notable member was Antonio Vespia (1530-1612), a successful merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the city's economic development.

As the name spread across Italy, it also underwent various spelling variations, such as "Vespi," "Vespio," and "Vespio." These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local pronunciation.

In the 18th century, the Vespia surname gained recognition in the field of art and literature. Francesco Vespia (1710-1782), a celebrated painter from Naples, was renowned for his portraiture and religious works, which adorned many churches and noble residences throughout southern Italy.

Another notable figure was Gian Battista Vespia (1755-1824), a writer and poet from Venice. His poetic works, which celebrated the beauty of the Venetian lagoon and its rich cultural heritage, gained widespread acclaim during his lifetime.

Throughout history, the surname Vespia has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, merchants, and government officials. While the name may have originated from a humble reference to a small insect, it has left an indelible mark on the cultural tapestry of Italy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vespia

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

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 Vespia was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only95.89%140
Non-Hispanic Black Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races0.00%0
Hispanic Origin(S)%(S)

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

20102000Change (%)
White95.89%99.26%-3.45%
Black(S)%0.00%(S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander(S)%(S)%(S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0.00%0.00%
Two or More Races0.00%0.00%0.00%
Hispanic(S)%(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 Vespia was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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