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

Catto, 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 Catto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Catto in America

Catto is the 62714th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Catto surname appeared 319 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Catto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Catto 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 Catto

The surname Catto originated in Italy, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "cattus," meaning "cat," possibly referring to an ancestor who was associated with cats or had cat-like characteristics. The name initially appeared in written records from the Veneto region, particularly in the cities of Venice and Verona.

One of the earliest documented instances of the Catto surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Veneto-Reipublicae, a collection of historical documents from the Venetian Republic, where a certain "Petrus Catto" is mentioned in a legal document dated 1237. This record suggests that the Catto family had already established a presence in the region by that time.

During the Renaissance period, the Catto name gained prominence in Italy. In the 15th century, a notable figure named Giovanni Battista Catto (1430-1492) was a respected painter and art teacher based in Venice. His works, primarily religious frescoes and altarpieces, can still be admired in various churches throughout the city.

As the Catto family dispersed across Italy over the centuries, different spellings of the name emerged. In the southern regions, such as Calabria and Sicily, variations like "Catto" and "Cattò" were commonly found. Meanwhile, in the northern regions, spellings like "Catto" and "Catti" were more prevalent.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Catto surname outside of Italy was Antonio Catto (1560-1635), a Venetian merchant and explorer who traveled extensively throughout the Mediterranean region and the Levant. His detailed accounts of his voyages provided valuable insights into the trade routes and cultural exchanges of the time.

Another notable figure was Tommaso Catto (1675-1742), a Sicilian-born priest and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of ancient Greek and Latin texts. His extensive translations and commentaries on classical works were highly regarded by academics of his era.

During the 19th century, the Catto name gained recognition through the accomplishments of Carlo Catto (1825-1899), an Italian politician and statesman from Piedmont. He played a crucial role in the unification of Italy and served as a member of the Italian parliament for several terms.

While the surname Catto is not as widespread as some other Italian surnames, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals who have left their mark in various fields, from art and exploration to academia and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Catto

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

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

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

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