Explore the Family Name Cecilia

The meaning of Cecilia

Spanish, Italian (Lazio), West Indian (Dutch Caribbean), and Indonesian: from the female personal name Cecilia, from Latin Caecilia, a derivative of caecus ‘blind’ (see Sisley). As a West Indian surname it reflects the partially mother-oriented name culture of the formerly enslaved people in the West Indies (compare Martina). — Note: As a name from Indonesia or any other country where hereditary surnames are not in general use, this name was registered as a surname only after immigration of its bearers to the US.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Cecilia in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Cecilia" experienced a slight increase in the United States between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked 72,022nd in popularity and jumped to 68,770th by 2010, which signifies a 4.52% rise. The count of individuals with this surname also saw growth from 252 in 2000 to 286 in 2010, a rise of 13.49%. Consequently, the proportion of this surname per 100,000 people increased by 11.1% within the same decade.

20002010Change
Rank#72,022#68,7704.52%
Count25228613.49%
Proportion per 100k0.090.111.11%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Cecilia

The ethnic identity associated with the surname "Cecilia" also underwent changes between 2000 and 2010, as noted in the Decennial U.S. Census. A small uptick was seen in the Asian/Pacific Islander group, from 9.13% to 9.44%, and the number of individuals identifying with two or more races emerged at 1.75% in 2010. There was a significant decrease in the percentage of white individuals carrying this surname, down from 46.03% to 34.62%. Conversely, those identifying as Hispanic rose from 41.67% to 50%, and there was a notable increase among black individuals, going from 1.98% to 4.2% over the decade. The percentage of American Indian and Alaskan Native remained unchanged.

20002010Change
Hispanic41.67%50%19.99%
White46.03%34.62%-24.79%
Asian/Pacific Islander9.13%9.44%3.4%
Black1.98%4.2%112.12%
Two or More Races0%1.75%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%