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

Vitela, 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 Vitela surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vitela in America

Vitela is the 15985th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vitela surname appeared 1,816 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 Vitela.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vitela 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 Vitela

The surname VITELA is of Italian origin, derived from the Italian word "vitella," which means "calf" or "young cow." The name likely originated in the medieval period, possibly as an occupational surname for someone who worked with calves or cattle, such as a cowherd or a dairy farmer.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname VITELA can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Italy, particularly in the northern regions such as Lombardy and Veneto. In some historical records, the name appears with variations in spelling, such as VITELLI, VITELLO, or VITELA.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname VITELA was Guglielmo VITELA, a notary who lived in the city of Pavia, Lombardy, in the late 13th century. His name is mentioned in several legal documents from that period, indicating the presence of the surname in that region.

During the Renaissance period, the VITELA family gained prominence in Florence, where they were known for their involvement in the wool trade. Niccolò VITELA (c. 1450-1520) was a successful Florentine merchant and banker who played a significant role in the city's economic affairs.

In the 17th century, a branch of the VITELA family settled in the Kingdom of Naples, where they acquired noble status. Giovanni Battista VITELA (1605-1678) was a prominent military commander who served under the Spanish Crown and participated in the Wars of Castro against the Papal States.

Another notable figure with the surname VITELA was Girolamo VITELA (1725-1797), a Venetian architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Venice, including the Church of San Stae and the Palazzo Corner Spinelli.

In the 19th century, Antonio VITELA (1820-1892) was an Italian painter and sculptor from Milan who gained recognition for his works in the Neoclassical and Romantic styles. His paintings and sculptures can be found in various museums and galleries across Italy.

While the VITELA surname is primarily associated with Italy, it has also spread to other parts of the world through Italian immigration. However, the historical records and notable figures mentioned above highlight the surname's rich Italian heritage and its deep roots in various regions of the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vitela

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

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

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

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