Colasanto
An Italian surname derived from a place name, translating to "one from Collesanto."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 308 Americans carry the last name Colasanto. That puts it at #74,141 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 Colasanto 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
#74,141
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
261
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 261 bearers of the surname Colasanto in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.09 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 74141st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Colasanto, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.8%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Colasanto
The surname Colasanto has its origins in Italy, likely emerging in the late medieval period or the Renaissance era. It is believed to be derived from the Italian words "cola" and "santo," which translates to "tails" and "saint," respectively. This combination suggests a connection to a place name or a person's occupation involving the handling or processing of tails, perhaps in the textile or leather industries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Colasanto can be found in the historical archives of the city of Naples, where a merchant named Giovanni Colasanto is mentioned in a trade document dated 1472. This provides evidence of the name's existence during the 15th century in the southern Italian region of Campania.
In the 16th century, records from the town of Amalfi indicate the presence of a family with the name Colasanto. A notable individual from this lineage was Francesco Colasanto, born in 1537, who served as a respected magistrate and legal scholar in the Kingdom of Naples.
The name Colasanto also appears in historical documents from the Sicilian city of Palermo, where a prominent family bearing this surname resided in the 17th century. One member, Vincenzo Colasanto (1621-1698), was a renowned architect who contributed to the design of several churches and public buildings in the city.
Moving forward to the 18th century, the Colasanto name gained recognition in the northern Italian region of Lombardy. A notable figure was Antonio Colasanto (1725-1802), a philosopher and writer from Milan who authored several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy.
In more recent times, the name Colasanto has spread beyond Italy due to migration and diaspora. One notable bearer of this surname was the Italian-American actor and film director Roberto Colasanto (1940-2008), who gained fame for his roles in various Hollywood productions.
While the origins of the Colasanto surname can be traced back to Italy, it has since become a part of the cultural fabric of communities around the world, reflecting the rich tapestry of human migration and the enduring legacy of names and their histories.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Colasanto
Among Census respondents with the surname Colasanto, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.8%.
The bar chart below shows how Colasanto 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 Colasanto surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White98.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Colasanto 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 | #74,141 | #74,141 | 0.0% |
| Count | 261 | 261 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Colasanto bearers went from 261 to 261 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #74,141 to #74,141.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Colasanto
FAQ
Colasanto surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Colasanto?
The surname Colasanto holds position #74,141 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 Colasanto surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Colasanto, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.8%. 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.