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

Vi, 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 Vi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vi in America

Vi is the 29528th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vi surname appeared 799 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 Vi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vi 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 Vi

The surname "Vi" originated in Italy during the medieval period, deriving from the Latin word "via" meaning "road" or "path." It is believed to have originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a prominent road or traveled frequently along a particular route.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Vi" can be found in the Codice Diplomatico della Lombardia Medievale, a collection of historical documents from the medieval Lombardy region of Italy, dating back to the 11th century. In these records, individuals bearing the surname "Vi" are mentioned in connection with various transactions and legal documents.

In the 13th century, the name "Vi" appeared in the Registri della Cancelleria Angioina, a series of administrative records from the Kingdom of Naples during the Angevin dynasty. These records provide insights into the lives and activities of individuals with the surname "Vi" during this period.

One notable figure bearing the surname "Vi" was Bartolomeo Vi, a renowned painter from the Italian Renaissance era who lived from approximately 1470 to 1535. His works can be found in various churches and museums throughout Italy, showcasing his mastery of the Renaissance style.

In the 16th century, the name "Vi" was also found in the records of the Venetian Republic, where individuals with this surname were involved in various trades and professions within the city-state's bustling commercial and maritime activities.

Another significant individual with the surname "Vi" was Giovanni Battista Vi, a philosopher and theologian who lived from 1540 to 1612. He was known for his writings on metaphysics and his contributions to the intellectual discourse of his time.

During the 17th century, the name "Vi" appeared in connection with various place names across Italy, such as Vico, Vigevano, and Vigonza, suggesting potential links between the surname and these locations.

Throughout the centuries, the surname "Vi" has been associated with notable figures in various fields, including the arts, academia, and politics. However, due to the age and scarcity of historical records, it is challenging to provide an exhaustive list of individuals with this surname from earlier periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vi

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!