Explore the Family Name La Spina
The meaning of La Spina
Italian (southern): 1. from spina ‘thorn’ (from Latin spina), with the definite article la, applied as a topographic name for someone who lived by a thorn bush or in an area of scrubland, or (in a transferred sense) for someone who lived by the crest or ridge of a hill. It could also be a nickname for a tall, thin, spiky person. 2. from a short form of a personal name formed with this word for its Christian associations, for example Fiordespina, Despina, Malaspina. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Sal, Angelo, Mario, Rosario, Sebastiano, Carmelo, Gino, Giuseppe, Ignazio, Javier, Orazio, Salvatore.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name La Spina in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname La Spina saw a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. Initially ranked 28,353 in 2000, the surname dropped to 29,740 by 2010, representing a change of -4.89%. The actual count of individuals with this last name also decreased slightly from 793 in 2000 to 791 in 2010, a marginal decline of -0.25%. As a proportion per 100k people, the occurrence of this surname reduced from 0.29 to 0.27 during the same time period, marking a drop of -6.9%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #28,353 | #29,740 | -4.89% |
| Count | 793 | 791 | -0.25% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.29 | 0.27 | -6.9% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name La Spina
Turning to the ethnic identity associated with the La Spina surname, the census data provides some intriguing shifts. In 2000, no one identified as Asian/Pacific Islander under this surname, but this changed to 0.63% by 2010. Those identifying with two or more races saw a decrease from 1.89% in 2000 to 1.64% in 2010. The majority of individuals with the La Spina surname identify as white, rising slightly from 90.16% in 2000 to 90.52% in 2010. Hispanic identification decreased slightly from 7.19% in 2000 to 6.95% in 2010. There were no individuals who identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year under the La Spina surname. This interpretation is based on the Decennial U.S. Census data.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 90.16% | 90.52% | 0.4% |
| Hispanic | 7.19% | 6.95% | -3.34% |
| Two or More Races | 1.89% | 1.64% | -13.23% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.63% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |