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

Cosmo, 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 Cosmo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cosmo in America

Cosmo is the 60196th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cosmo surname appeared 335 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 Cosmo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cosmo 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 Cosmo

The surname "Cosmo" is believed to have originated in Italy during the medieval period. It is thought to be a variation of the Italian name "Cosimo," which is derived from the Greek name "Kosmas," meaning "order" or "decorum." This name was particularly popular in Florence, where it was borne by several members of the powerful Medici family.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Cosmo" can be found in a 14th-century Florentine document, where it is spelled "Cosmo di Giovanni." This individual was likely a merchant or artisan living in Florence during the Renaissance period.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Cosmo de' Medici (1389-1464) rose to prominence in Florence. He was a wealthy banker, diplomat, and patron of the arts, and is considered one of the most influential figures of the Italian Renaissance. His grandson, Cosimo I de' Medici (1519-1574), became the first Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1569.

The surname "Cosmo" also has ties to the island of Corsica, which was historically part of the Republic of Genoa and later the Kingdom of France. In the 16th century, a Corsican nobleman named Giovan Paolo Cosmo (1520-1592) served as a military leader and diplomat for the Genoese and French crowns.

Another notable bearer of the surname was the Italian philosopher and scientist Cosmo Alessandro Guido Gatti di Gamond (1675-1755), who made significant contributions to the fields of physics and mathematics. He was born in the town of Gamond, near Turin, and his name reflects the Italian tradition of combining the given name with the place of origin.

In the 18th century, the Italian painter Cosmo Gatti Montalto (1737-1808) achieved recognition for his religious and mythological works, which were commissioned by various churches and noble families in Italy. He was born in the town of Montalto, which is reflected in his surname.

While the surname "Cosmo" is relatively uncommon today, it has a rich history rooted in the Italian Renaissance and the cultural traditions of Florence and Corsica. Its connection to the Medici family and other notable figures in the arts, sciences, and politics underscores its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cosmo

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

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

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

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