Explore the Family Name Massaro
The meaning of Massaro
Italian: occupational or status name from massaro, which in northern Italy denoted a tenant farmer or share cropper and in central and southern Italy could also denote an agent or steward of a rural estate, from medieval Latin massarius, a derivative of massa ‘farm, estate’. Compare Massa and Massara. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Angelo, Salvatore, Carmine, Pasquale, Rocco, Antonio, Gennaro, Vito, Carlo, Gaetano, Nunzio, Antoninette.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Massaro in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Massaro has seen a slight shift between 2000 and 2010. The rank of the surname fell from 6393 to 6651, indicating a decrease of 4.04%. Meanwhile, the count of individuals with the surname increased by 3.73%, going from 4906 in 2000 to 5089 in 2010. This shows an overall decrease in the proportion per 100,000 people from 1.82 to 1.73, reflecting a decline of approximately 4.95%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,393 | #6,651 | -4.04% |
| Count | 4,906 | 5,089 | 3.73% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.82 | 1.73 | -4.95% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Massaro
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data provides an interesting insight into the distribution of the surname Massaro over time. In 2000, the majority of those bearing the name were identified as White (95.05%), a figure that saw a small reduction to 94.07% by 2010. Over the same period, there was a noticeable increase in the number of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or Hispanic, with changes of 38.71% and 36.04% respectively. On the other hand, the proportions of those identifying as Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native remained relatively stable or decreased slightly. The proportion of individuals identifying with two or more races also decreased from 0.88% to 0.69%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.05% | 94.07% | -1.03% |
| Hispanic | 3.08% | 4.19% | 36.04% |
| Two or More Races | 0.88% | 0.69% | -21.59% |
| Black | 0.53% | 0.53% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.31% | 0.43% | 38.71% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.16% | 0.1% | -37.5% |
Massaro ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Massaro is Italian, which comprises 37.7% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (26.4%) and French & German (13.1%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Ashkenazi Jewish, Greek & Balkan, Scandinavian, and Spanish & Portuguese.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Italian | 37.7% |
| British & Irish | 26.4% |
| French & German | 13.1% |
| Other | 22.8% |
Possible origins of the surname Massaro
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Massaro have recent ancestry locations spanning a few countries, mostly in Italy, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Sicily, Italy | 65.10% |
| Campania, Italy | 64.30% |
| Calabria, Italy | 62.80% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 58.90% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 58.10% |
What Massaro haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Massaro is R-P312, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P312 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include J-L70 and E-Z827, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Viola, Monaco, Costanzo, Rizzo, Esposito, Decarlo, Lazar, Amato, Rosado, Romeo.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Massaro surname are: N, U2_3_4_7_8_9, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Massaro have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Massaro" Surname 34.3%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Massaro" Surname 37.5%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Massaro" Surname 24.0%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Massaro" Surname 16.9%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Massaro?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Massaro are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition