Cattaneo
An Italian surname denoting someone from the Alpine town of Cattanea.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 823 Americans carry the last name Cattaneo. That puts it at #32,268 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.24 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 416,469 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cattaneo surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
823
1 in 416,469
Census rank
#32,268
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
714
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 714 bearers of the surname Cattaneo in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 32268th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cattaneo, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (14.8%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cattaneo
The surname Cattaneo is of Italian origin, specifically from the northern regions of Italy. It dates back to the Middle Ages and is derived from the Italian word "cattano," meaning a landlord or property owner. This surname likely originated as a descriptive name for someone who owned land or property.
The name can be traced back to the 12th century in records from the regions of Lombardy and Piedmont. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in a document from 1189, which mentions a certain Guglielmo Cattaneo, a landowner in the town of Pavia.
In the 13th century, the Cattaneo family gained prominence in the city of Genoa, where they were part of the noble class and held significant political power. One notable member of this family was Oberto Cattaneo, who served as the Doge of Genoa from 1241 to 1243.
The variant spelling "Cattani" was also common in certain areas, particularly in the region of Emilia-Romagna. In the 14th century, a Cattani family was recorded as residing in the city of Bologna, where they held positions of influence.
Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Cattaneo have achieved distinction in various fields. One such example is Dante Cattaneo (1480-1542), an Italian poet and scholar from Genoa who was known for his works in Latin and Italian.
Another notable figure is Giacomo Cattaneo (1823-1887), an Italian painter and illustrator known for his religious artworks and frescoes in churches across Italy.
In the 20th century, Carlo Cattaneo (1911-1979) was an Italian architect and designer who made significant contributions to the modernist movement in Italy.
Additionally, Gaetano Cattaneo (1771-1841) was an influential Italian mathematician and physicist who made important discoveries in the field of electromagnetism.
The surname Cattaneo continues to be prevalent in various parts of Italy, particularly in the northern regions from where it originated. While its frequency may have fluctuated over time, it remains a prominent Italian surname with a rich historical legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cattaneo
Among Census respondents with the surname Cattaneo, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (14.8%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Cattaneo bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Cattaneo surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White81.5%
- Hispanic or Latino14.8%
- Two or more races2.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Cattaneo surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #32,268 | #32,268 | 0.0% |
| Count | 714 | 714 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Cattaneo bearers went from 714 to 714 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #32,268 to #32,268.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Cattaneo
FAQ
Cattaneo surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Cattaneo?
The surname Cattaneo holds position #32,268 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 823 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Cattaneo surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cattaneo, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (14.8%) and Two or More Races (2.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.