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

Cato, 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 Cato surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cato in America

Cato is the 4285th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cato surname appeared 8,298 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Cato.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cato 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 Cato

The surname Cato is of Latin origin, and it is believed to have originated in ancient Rome. The name is derived from the Latin word "catus," which means "wise" or "prudent." It was initially a nickname given to individuals who were considered to be intelligent and discerning.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cato can be found in the writings of ancient Roman authors such as Plutarch and Cicero. They mention Marcus Porcius Cato, also known as Cato the Elder (234-149 BC), a renowned Roman statesman, orator, and writer. He was famous for his unwavering adherence to traditional Roman values and his opposition to the influence of Hellenistic culture in Rome.

During the Middle Ages, the name Cato appeared in various legal and administrative documents across Europe. For example, the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, includes several entries mentioning individuals with the surname Cato.

In the 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, the famous English poet, made reference to a character named Cato in his work "The Canterbury Tales." This literary reference suggests that the name was in use in medieval England.

One notable bearer of the Cato surname was Marco Antonio Cato (1518-1597), an Italian philosopher and theologian who played a significant role in the Renaissance humanist movement. He was known for his translations of ancient Greek and Roman texts and his contributions to the study of classical literature.

Another prominent figure with the surname Cato was Marco Antonio de Dominis (1566-1624), a Dalmatian Catholic bishop and scientist. He made important contributions to the field of optics and was involved in the scientific debates surrounding the heliocentric model of the universe proposed by Galileo Galilei.

In the 18th century, John Cato (1728-1806), an English author and poet, gained recognition for his works on agriculture and rural life. His book "Letters on the Utility and Policy of Employing Poor People in Public Labour" (1781) addressed issues related to poverty and employment.

Throughout history, the surname Cato has been associated with individuals from various backgrounds, including scholars, writers, philosophers, and statesmen. While its origins can be traced back to ancient Rome, the name has since spread across Europe and beyond, carrying with it connotations of wisdom and intelligence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cato

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

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

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

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