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

Cleto, 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 Cleto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cleto in America

Cleto is the 45105th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cleto surname appeared 475 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 Cleto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cleto 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 Cleto

The surname Cleto has its origins rooted in Italy, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. This moniker is derived from the Latin word "cletus," which translates to "called" or "summoned." It is believed that this name may have initially been used as a nickname or a descriptive term referring to someone who was frequently summoned or called upon.

In the early medieval period, the name Cleto was particularly prevalent in the regions of Tuscany and Umbria. One of the earliest documented references to this surname can be found in the records of the city of Perugia, where a certain Guido Cleto was mentioned in a legal document from the year 1275.

The Cleto surname gained further prominence in the 14th century, with several notable individuals bearing this name. One such figure was Filippo Cleto, a renowned poet and scholar who lived in Florence during the Renaissance era. His works were widely celebrated and he was known for his contributions to the literary circles of his time.

As the centuries passed, the Cleto name spread across various parts of Italy, with families bearing this surname establishing themselves in cities like Rome, Naples, and Milan. In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Giovanni Battista Cleto gained recognition as a skilled architect and engineer, responsible for designing several notable structures in the city of Genoa.

Moving into the 17th century, the Cleto name continued to be associated with individuals of distinction. Girolamo Cleto, born in 1625 in Palermo, was a revered theologian and philosopher who authored numerous scholarly works on religious and philosophical subjects.

During the 18th century, the Cleto surname was also associated with the arts. Antonio Cleto, born in Venice in 1712, was a celebrated painter whose works adorned the walls of many churches and palaces throughout Italy. His masterpieces were highly sought after and are still admired by art enthusiasts today.

As the centuries progressed, the Cleto name continued to be represented across various fields, including politics, literature, and academia. While the name may have evolved in its spelling and pronunciation over time, its Italian roots and historical significance have remained intact, making it a distinctive and enduring surname in the annals of Italian heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cleto

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

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

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

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