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

Wanzo, 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 Wanzo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wanzo in America

Wanzo is the 80131st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wanzo surname appeared 237 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 Wanzo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wanzo 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 Wanzo

The surname Wanzo originated in the southern regions of Italy, particularly in the regions of Campania and Calabria. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "vanus," which means "empty" or "void." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone who was perceived as being vain or boastful.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wanzo can be found in the "Codice Diplomatico Barese," a collection of historical documents from the city of Bari, dating back to the 11th century. The name appears in various forms, such as "Vanzo," "Vancius," and "Vanzius," indicating its evolution over time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name Wanzo was Matteo Wanzo, a merchant and landowner from the town of Salerno. He is mentioned in several local records from that period, showcasing the presence of the surname in the region.

During the Renaissance period, a prominent member of the Wanzo family was Girolamo Wanzo, a humanist scholar and poet born in Naples in 1485. He authored several literary works and was highly regarded for his contributions to the arts and culture of the time.

In the 17th century, the name Wanzo gained wider recognition with the birth of Antonio Wanzo in 1623. He was a renowned architect and engineer from Calabria, known for his innovative designs and contributions to the construction of several notable buildings and public works projects in southern Italy.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname Wanzo was Maria Wanzo, a philanthropist and patron of the arts who lived in Naples during the 18th century. She was instrumental in supporting various cultural initiatives and was recognized for her generosity and dedication to the arts.

As the centuries passed, the Wanzo surname continued to be present in various regions of Italy, particularly in the southern areas. While it is not a widely common name, it has maintained a consistent presence throughout the country's history, with individuals bearing this surname contributing to various fields and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wanzo

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

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

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

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