Explore the Family Name Branca
The meaning of Branca
1. Italian: from branca ‘claw, hand’, hence a nickname for someone with a deformity of the hand or possibly for a grasping person. 2. Italian: from a short form of a compound personal name such as Brancaleone (‘lion’s paw’). 3. Portuguese: habitational name from any of the places called Branca, or possibly a nickname from the feminine form of Portuguese branco ‘white’. See Branco. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Salvatore, Guido, Rocco, Angelo, Carmine, Constantino, Francesco, Lorenzo, Natale, Nunzi, Pasco, Raffaele.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Branca in the United States?
According to data derived from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Branca has seen a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 19,587 in terms of popularity but dropped to 21,429 by 2010, reflecting a change of -9.4%. The count also reduced from 1,274 individuals bearing this surname in 2000 to 1,220 in 2010, a decrease of approximately 4.24%. Its proportion per 100,000 people also fell from 0.47 to 0.41 over the same period, marking a decline of 12.77%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,587 | #21,429 | -9.4% |
| Count | 1,274 | 1,220 | -4.24% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.47 | 0.41 | -12.77% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Branca
In terms of ethnicity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows a slight shift in the representation of the surname Branca. In 2000, 92.86% of those with this surname identified as White, but this dropped slightly to 91.39% by 2010. The percentage of those identifying as Hispanic saw an increase from 3.92% in 2000 to 5.66% in 2010. Representation within the Black community decreased from 1.41% to 1.07%, while the percentage of those claiming two or more races increased from 1.18% to 1.48%. Both the Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native categories remained relatively unchanged, with the latter showing no representatives in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.86% | 91.39% | -1.58% |
| Hispanic | 3.92% | 5.66% | 44.39% |
| Two or More Races | 1.18% | 1.48% | 25.42% |
| Black | 1.41% | 1.07% | -24.11% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.41% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |