Abate last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Abate is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Abate.

Meaning of Abate

Derived from the Italian word meaning "abbot," referring to a person who worked for or lived near an abbot.

Abate, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Abate surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Abate in America

Abate is the 7644th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Abate surname appeared 4,344 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Abate.

We can also compare 2010 data for Abate to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 7644 7905 -3.36%
Count 4,344 3,885 11.16%
Proportion per 100k 1.47 1.44 2.06%

The history of the last name Abate

The surname ABATE has its origins in Italy, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "abbatem," which means "abbot" or "superior of a monastery." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who held positions of authority within religious communities or were connected to monastic orders.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ABATE can be found in the historic records of the Republic of Genoa, a powerful maritime republic that flourished in the Mediterranean region during the Middle Ages. These documents mention individuals bearing the surname ABATE who were involved in trade and commercial activities within the city-state.

As the name spread throughout Italy, it underwent variations in spelling, such as Abbate, Abbati, and Abati, reflecting regional dialects and scribal practices of the time. These variations often appeared in medieval manuscripts and chronicles, providing insights into the geographical distribution of the name across different regions of the Italian peninsula.

Notable historical figures bearing the ABATE surname include Giovanni Battista Abate (1525-1589), an Italian painter and architect who was active during the Renaissance period. His works can be found in various churches and palaces throughout Italy, showcasing the artistic talents associated with this name.

Another prominent individual was Niccolò dell'Abate (1509-1571), an Italian poet and scholar who lived during the 16th century. He gained recognition for his poetic works and contributions to the literary circles of his time, further adding to the cultural significance of the ABATE surname.

In the realm of religious leadership, Gioacchino Abate (1559-1619) was a notable figure who served as the Bishop of Catania, a city in Sicily, during the early 17th century. His tenure as a high-ranking ecclesiastical figure exemplified the connection between the name ABATE and religious authority.

Moving forward in time, Vincenzo Abate (1687-1755) was an Italian painter and engraver who achieved fame for his artistic works, particularly his etchings and engravings depicting religious and mythological scenes. His artistic legacy contributed to the cultural heritage associated with the ABATE surname.

Paolo Abate (1902-1992) was a 20th-century Italian actor and film director who made significant contributions to the Italian cinema industry. His prolific career spanned several decades, and he is remembered for his performances in numerous films and theatrical productions, further enhancing the recognition of the ABATE name in the arts and entertainment sectors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Abate

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Abate.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Abate was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 84.94% 3,690
Non-Hispanic Black Only 10.22% 444
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.37% 16
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.12% 5
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.01% 44
Hispanic Origin 3.34% 145

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Abate has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 84.94% 90.66% -6.51%
Black 10.22% 4.58% 76.22%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.37% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.12% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.01% 1.62% -46.39%
Hispanic 3.34% 2.42% 31.94%

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Abate was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Abate, please contact us.

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Abate last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 5, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/abate-surname-popularity/.

"Abate last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/abate-surname-popularity/. Accessed 5 December, 2024

Abate last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/abate-surname-popularity/.

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