Cenatus
Derived from the Latin "cenatus," meaning one who has dined, possibly referring to an innkeeper.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 308 Americans carry the last name Cenatus. That puts it at #72,568 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.09 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,112,839 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cenatus 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
308
1 in 1,112,839
Census rank
#72,568
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
268
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 268 bearers of the surname Cenatus in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.09 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 72568th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cenatus, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cenatus
The surname Cenatus has its origins in Italy, dating back to the late medieval period. It is derived from the Latin word "caenatus," which means "dinner" or "supper." This suggests that the name may have been initially adopted as a descriptive surname for someone who worked as a cook or in a culinary profession.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Cenatus can be found in Italian municipal records from the 13th and 14th centuries. Many of these early mentions are concentrated in the regions of Tuscany and Umbria, indicating that the name may have originated in central Italy.
One notable historical reference to the name Cenatus is found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis," a collection of medieval documents from the Monastery of Cava in southern Italy. This manuscript, dating from the 11th century, contains several entries related to individuals with the surname Cenatus who were involved in legal transactions or property dealings.
In the 15th century, a prominent figure named Giovanni Cenatus (1420-1492) was a renowned humanist scholar and professor of rhetoric at the University of Pavia. His works on classical literature and philosophy were widely influential during the Italian Renaissance.
Another notable bearer of the name was Pietro Cenatus (1508-1579), a Venetian artist and engraver who produced numerous religious and mythological works. His engravings were highly prized by collectors and can be found in many museums and private collections today.
During the 16th century, the name Cenatus also appears in records from the Papal States, particularly in the city of Rome. One such individual was Girolamo Cenatus (1548-1618), a canon lawyer and ecclesiastical judge who served in the Roman Curia.
In the 18th century, a distinguished member of the Cenatus family was Antonio Cenatus (1732-1804), a renowned architect from Naples who designed several notable churches and palaces in the city and its surrounding regions.
The surname Cenatus has also been found in various place names throughout Italy, such as the village of Cenato in the province of Bergamo, suggesting that some branches of the family may have taken their name from these locations.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cenatus
Among Census respondents with the surname Cenatus, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Cenatus 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 Cenatus surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American95.5%
- Unknown or suppressed2.6%
- Two or more races1.9%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Cenatus 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #92,217 | #72,568 | 21.3% |
| Count | 185 | 268 | 44.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.09 | 28.6% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Cenatus bearers went from 185 to 268 (+44.9% change). The surname moved up 19,649 positions in the national ranking, going from #92,217 to #72,568.
FAQ
Cenatus surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Cenatus?
The surname Cenatus holds position #72,568 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 308 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.09 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Cenatus surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cenatus, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%). 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.