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

Viggiano, 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 Viggiano surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Viggiano in America

Viggiano is the 20047th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Viggiano surname appeared 1,334 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 Viggiano.

We can also compare 2010 data for Viggiano 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 Viggiano

The surname Viggiano originates from Italy, particularly the southern region of Basilicata. It is believed to have derived from the town of Viggiano, located in the province of Potenza. The name is thought to have its roots in the Latin word "vigilia," meaning "vigilance" or "watchfulness," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have been associated with guard duties or military roles.

The town of Viggiano dates back to ancient times, and the name appears in historical records as early as the 11th century. One of the earliest known references to the surname Viggiano can be found in a document from 1198, where a certain Guglielmo Viggiano was mentioned as a landowner in the region.

During the Middle Ages, the Viggiano family played a prominent role in the feudal society of Basilicata. Several members of the family were recorded as holding positions of power and influence, such as the nobleman Ruggiero Viggiano, who served as the castellan (castle governor) of Viggiano in the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name Viggiano gained further recognition when Giovan Battista Viggiano, a renowned jurist and legal scholar, published his influential work "De universali feudorum tractatione" (A Treatise on Feudal Law) in 1569. This work became a seminal text in the study of feudal law and solidified the Viggiano family's reputation in the legal and scholarly circles of the time.

Another notable figure with the surname Viggiano was Francesco Viggiano, a 17th-century painter from Naples. His works can be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy, showcasing his talent in the Baroque style of painting.

In the 19th century, Antonio Viggiano, born in 1823, gained recognition as a prominent Italian politician and statesman. He served as a deputy in the Italian Parliament and played a pivotal role in the unification of Italy under the House of Savoy.

Throughout history, the Viggiano surname has been associated with individuals from various fields, including law, art, politics, and academia, reflecting the diverse contributions of this family to Italian society and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Viggiano

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

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

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

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