Cognato last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Cognato

An Italian surname meaning "brother-in-law" or "brother of one's spouse".

Cognato, 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 Cognato surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cognato in America

Cognato is the 113155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cognato surname appeared 155 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 Cognato.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cognato 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 113155 108734 3.98%
Count 155 151 2.61%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.06 -18.18%

The history of the last name Cognato

The surname COGNATO is of Italian origin, with roots tracing back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated from the northern regions of Italy, particularly in the areas around Milan and Lombardy. The name is derived from the Italian word "cognato," which translates to "brother-in-law" or "son-in-law."

One of the earliest known references to the COGNATO surname can be found in the historical records of the city of Pavia, dating back to the late 1300s. These records mention a merchant named Giacomo COGNATO, who was involved in the flourishing trade between Italy and the neighboring regions.

During the Renaissance period, the COGNATO name gained prominence in the artistic circles of Florence. A renowned painter, Pietro COGNATO, was born in 1470 and is credited with several frescoes adorning the walls of the Santa Croce Basilica. His works were celebrated for their vibrant colors and intricate details.

In the 16th century, the COGNATO family expanded their influence to the coastal regions of Genoa and Liguria. Records from this period mention a wealthy merchant named Antonio COGNATO, who financed several voyages of exploration and trade with the Mediterranean and beyond.

As the centuries progressed, the COGNATO name spread across different parts of Italy, with notable individuals emerging in various fields. One such figure was Giuseppe COGNATO, a philosopher and scholar born in 1725 in Naples. His writings on ethics and moral philosophy were widely studied in academic circles of the time.

Another prominent individual bearing the COGNATO surname was Maria COGNATO, a renowned opera singer from Milan. Born in 1820, she captivated audiences across Europe with her powerful soprano voice and mesmerizing stage presence. Many composers sought her talents for their operatic works.

The COGNATO name has also been associated with places and locations in Italy. For instance, the small village of Cognato in the Piedmont region is believed to have derived its name from the surname itself, suggesting a possible connection to the family's roots in that area.

Throughout its rich history, the COGNATO surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, artists, scholars, and performers. While the name's origins can be traced back to the northern regions of Italy, it has since become a part of the country's diverse cultural tapestry, leaving an indelible mark on its historical narrative.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cognato

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

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 Cognato was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 97.42% 151
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Cognato has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 97.42% 98.68% -1.29%
Black 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.00% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Cognato last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 30, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/cognato-surname-popularity/.

"Cognato last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/cognato-surname-popularity/. Accessed 30 June, 2025

Cognato last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/cognato-surname-popularity/.

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