Explore the Family Name Novo
The meaning of Novo
Portuguese, Galician, and northern Italian: nickname from novo ‘new, young’ (from Latin novus). The word was also occasionally used in the Middle Ages as a personal name, particularly for a child born after the death of a sibling, and this may also be a source of the surname. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Manuel, Roberto, Jesus, Miguel, Cristina, Eduardo, Elena, Ignacio, Juan, Lazaro, Ramon. Portuguese Joaquim. Italian Antonio, Angelo, Claudina.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Novo in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Novo has seen an increase in popularity between the years 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 25,466 in popularity but jumped to the 23,333rd position by 2010, marking an impressive growth of 8.38 percent over the decade. Similarly, the count of individuals with this surname also rose from 912 in 2000 to 1,091 in 2010, a significant increase of 19.63 percent. The proportion per 100k also saw an upward trend, moving from 0.34 to 0.37.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,466 | #23,333 | 8.38% |
| Count | 912 | 1,091 | 19.63% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.34 | 0.37 | 8.82% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Novo
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates some changes among those bearing the surname Novo. The biggest shift was seen in the Asian/Pacific Islander category, which saw a substantial increase of 73.48 percent, moving from 1.32 percent in 2000 to 2.29 percent in 2010. However, individuals identifying as two or more races fell by nearly half, while the number of white individuals with this surname declined by 14.36 percent. Meanwhile, the Hispanic community showed an increase, rising from 51.43 percent in 2000 to 57.65 percent in 2010. There were no observed changes for Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native categories during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 51.43% | 57.65% | 12.09% |
| White | 44.85% | 38.41% | -14.36% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.32% | 2.29% | 73.48% |
| Two or More Races | 2.19% | 1.1% | -49.77% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |