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

Contratto, 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 Contratto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Contratto in America

Contratto is the 83541st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Contratto surname appeared 225 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 Contratto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Contratto 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 Contratto

The surname Contratto originated in Italy during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "contratto," meaning "contract" or "agreement." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals involved in legal or business transactions, such as notaries or merchants.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Contratto can be traced back to the 13th century in the region of Piedmont, Italy. The name appears in historical documents from cities like Turin and Asti, where it was commonly used among the local population.

In the 14th century, the Contratto family gained prominence in the city of Genoa, where they were involved in maritime trade and commerce. Records from this period show that several members of the family held influential positions within the city's mercantile guilds and political institutions.

A notable figure bearing the Contratto surname was Giovanni Contratto (1452-1519), a prominent Genoese lawyer and diplomat. He served as a legal advisor to the Doge of Genoa and was involved in negotiating treaties and agreements between the Republic of Genoa and other European powers.

During the Renaissance period, the Contratto name spread to other parts of Italy, including the regions of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. In the 16th century, a branch of the family established itself in the city of Parma, where they became renowned for their expertise in winemaking and viticulture.

One of the most famous individuals associated with the Contratto surname was Carlo Contratto (1566-1631), a Parmesan winemaker who is credited with pioneering the use of the metodo classico (traditional method) for producing sparkling wine. His innovative techniques laid the foundation for the region's renowned sparkling wine industry.

Another notable figure was Girolamo Contratto (1712-1784), a Piedmontese nobleman and military officer who served in the army of the Kingdom of Sardinia. He played a key role in the War of the Austrian Succession and was awarded several honors for his bravery and leadership.

In the 19th century, the Contratto family continued to play a significant role in the wine industry, with several members establishing successful wineries and vineyards in the Piedmont and Lombardy regions. One such individual was Giacomo Contratto (1823-1892), whose winery in Canelli, Piedmont, gained international recognition for its exceptional sparkling wines.

Despite its Italian origins, the Contratto surname has also been found in other parts of Europe, particularly in Spain and France, where it may have been introduced through migration or trade connections with Italy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Contratto

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

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

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

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