2000
#8,586
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,528
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.31
Rare Last name
Bova
An Italian surname derived from the word "bove," meaning "ox" or "bull," likely referring to a cattle herder or owner.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,820 Americans carry the last name Bova. That puts it at #9,369 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 89,726 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bova surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
3.8K
1 in 89,726
Census rank
#9,369
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,331 bearers of the surname Bova in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 9369th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bova, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%) and Two or More Races (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bova
The surname Bova has its origins in Italy, specifically in the regions of Calabria and Sicily. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "bova," which means "ox" or "cattle." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked with oxen or cattle, such as a farmer, rancher, or herdsman.
The earliest known records of the Bova surname can be traced back to the 12th century in the town of Bova, located in the province of Reggio Calabria, Calabria. Interestingly, the town's name is thought to have originated from the Greek word "bous," which also means "ox" or "cattle," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its agricultural roots.
During the Middle Ages, the Bova family played a significant role in the history of Calabria. In the 14th century, Nicola Bova was a prominent nobleman and military leader who fought against the Angevin rule in the region. His efforts contributed to the resistance against foreign domination and the preservation of local autonomy.
In the 16th century, the Bova surname appeared in various historical documents, including records from the Spanish Inquisition. One notable figure was Giovanni Battista Bova, a philosopher and theologian who lived from 1524 to 1608. He was known for his writings on Christian doctrine and his contributions to the intellectual debates of the time.
Another prominent individual with the Bova surname was Giovanni Francesco Bova, a 17th-century painter from Reggio Calabria. He was renowned for his religious artworks, many of which can still be found in churches throughout southern Italy.
Moving forward to the 19th century, Giuseppe Bova (1823-1887) was a distinguished Italian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Italian Parliament. He was a vocal advocate for the unification of Italy and played a crucial role in the Risorgimento movement.
In more recent times, one of the most renowned individuals with the Bova surname was Eugenio Bova, an Italian-American science fiction author and astrophysicist. Born in 1942, he was known for his works that explored the intersection of science and speculative fiction, including his popular "Grand Tour" series of novels.
Throughout history, the Bova surname has maintained a strong connection to its Italian roots, particularly in the regions of Calabria and Sicily. While the name may have originated from humble agricultural beginnings, it has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields, including politics, art, literature, and academia.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bova
Among Census respondents with the surname Bova, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%) and Two or More Races (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Bova bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bova surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.0% · 3,065
- Hispanic or Latino3.5% · 118
- Two or more races2.2% · 72
- Black or African American1.3% · 43
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7% · 22
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3% · 11
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bova
Bova appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#9,384
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,465
-63 bearers (-1.8%)
Per 100,000 1.17
Rank movement Down 798 places
2020
#9,369
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,331
-134 bearers (-3.9%)
Per 100,000 1.11
Rank movement Up 15 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #8,586 | 3,528 | 1.31 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #9,384 | 3,465 | 1.17 | -63 bearers (-1.8%) | Down 798 places |
| 2020 | #9,369 | 3,331 | 1.11 | -134 bearers (-3.9%) | Up 15 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Bova surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #9,384 | #9,369 | 0.2% |
| Count | 3,465 | 3,331 | -3.9% |
| Per 100K | 1.17 | 1.11 | -4.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bova bearers went from 3,465 to 3,331 (-3.9% change). The surname moved up 15 positions in the national ranking, going from #9,384 to #9,369.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bova
FAQ
Bova surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bova?
Name Census estimates that about 3,820 living Americans carry the surname Bova. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 89,726 residents.
How common is Bova?
Bova ranks #9,369 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.11 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 3,331 people with the surname Bova. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,820), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.11 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.11 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Bova.
Has Bova become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bova went from 3,465 recorded bearers to 3,331. That is a decrease of 134 (-3.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #9,384 to #9,369.
What does the Census say about the background of Bova?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bova, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%) and Two or More Races (2.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Bova in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.0% (3,065 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bova appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.0%), Hispanic (3.5%), Two or More Races (2.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Bova (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Bova mean?
An Italian surname derived from the word "bove," meaning "ox" or "bull," likely referring to a cattle herder or owner. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Bova (1.11 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Bova?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.