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

Canto, 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 Canto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Canto in America

Canto is the 15303rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Canto surname appeared 1,918 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 Canto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Canto 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.

The history of the last name Canto

The surname Canto is of Italian origin, emerging in the Renaissance period around the 15th century. It is derived from the Italian word "canto," meaning "song" or "poetry," suggesting that the name may have been initially associated with those involved in the art of singing, poetry, or music.

The earliest recorded instances of the Canto surname can be found in various historical records from northern Italy, particularly in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto. One of the earliest documented individuals bearing this surname was Giovanni Canto, a renowned poet and scholar from Bergamo, who lived in the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the Canto name appeared in the Republic of Venice's official records, with several members of the family holding prominent positions within the city's administration and cultural circles. One notable figure was Antonio Canto (1520-1588), a Venetian diplomat and humanist scholar known for his literary works and translations of ancient Greek texts.

The Canto surname has also been associated with the town of Canto, located in the province of Vicenza, in the Veneto region of northern Italy. It is possible that some individuals adopted the surname as a reference to their place of origin or residence.

In the 17teenth century, the Canto family gained prominence in the arts, with several members becoming renowned painters and sculptors. One of the most celebrated figures was Pietro Canto (1615-1678), a Baroque painter known for his religious works and frescoes adorning churches throughout Italy.

Another notable individual was Giovanni Battista Canto (1683-1756), a Venetian architect and engineer who contributed to the design and construction of several notable buildings in Venice and other Italian cities.

As the Canto family dispersed throughout Italy and beyond, the surname continued to be associated with individuals involved in various artistic and cultural pursuits. For example, Estanislao Canto (1775-1849) was a prominent Spanish poet and literary critic from Seville, while José María Canto y Vilchis (1787-1857) was a Mexican lawyer, politician, and writer who played a significant role in the country's independence movement.

Over the centuries, the Canto surname has been borne by numerous individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting its enduring presence and cultural significance within Italian and global contexts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Canto

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

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 Canto was:

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 Canto has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Canto was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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