2010
#147,253
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Cretaro
A surname of Italian origin meaning a potter or maker of clay objects.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 115 Americans carry the last name Cretaro. That puts it at #155,682 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,980,473 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cretaro surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
115
1 in 2,980,473
Census rank
#155,682
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
100
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 100 bearers of the surname Cretaro in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 155682nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cretaro, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cretaro
The surname Cretaro has its origins in Italy, specifically in the region of Campania, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "creta," meaning "clay," suggesting a connection to pottery or ceramic-making professions.
In the historical records of Naples and its surrounding areas, the name Cretaro appeared as early as the mid-1500s, often associated with families involved in the production of ceramics and pottery. The name was also found in various old manuscripts and records related to artisan guilds and trade associations.
One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the name Cretaro was Giovanni Cretaro, a renowned potter from Vietri sul Mare, who lived in the late 16th century. His works were highly regarded for their intricate designs and attention to detail.
In the 17th century, the Cretaro family gained prominence in the town of Cava de' Tirreni, where they established a thriving ceramic workshop. Vincenzo Cretaro (1620-1692) and his son, Gaetano Cretaro (1652-1718), were renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship and contributed to the region's flourishing ceramic industry.
Another notable figure was Antonio Cretaro (1725-1798), a master potter from Salerno, whose works were highly sought after by nobility and wealthy patrons. His creations were often decorated with intricate floral and mythological motifs, showcasing the family's artistic talents.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Cretaro name was closely associated with the production of the famous Vietri ceramics, with several artisans and potters bearing this surname playing a significant role in preserving and advancing this traditional craft.
One of the most renowned Cretaro artisans was Raffaele Cretaro (1845-1912), whose innovative techniques and designs earned him widespread recognition. His works were exhibited at various international expositions, garnering praise and accolades for the Cretaro family's legacy in the ceramic arts.
The surname Cretaro continues to be deeply rooted in the ceramic-making traditions of Southern Italy, with many contemporary artists and potters proudly carrying on the family's legacy in this highly skilled and revered craft.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cretaro
Among Census respondents with the surname Cretaro, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Cretaro bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Cretaro surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.0% · 91
- Hispanic or Latino5.0% · 5
- Two or more races3.0% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Cretaro
Cretaro appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#155,682
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
-12 bearers (-10.7%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 8,429 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #147,253 | 112 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #155,682 | 100 | 0.03 | -12 bearers (-10.7%) | Down 8,429 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Cretaro surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #147,253 | #155,682 | -5.7% |
| Count | 112 | 100 | -10.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -16.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Cretaro bearers went from 112 to 100 (-10.7% change). The surname moved down 8,429 positions in the national ranking, going from #147,253 to #155,682.
FAQ
Cretaro surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Cretaro?
Name Census estimates that about 115 living Americans carry the surname Cretaro. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,980,473 residents.
How common is Cretaro?
Cretaro ranks #155,682 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 100 people with the surname Cretaro. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (115), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Cretaro.
Has Cretaro become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Cretaro went from 112 recorded bearers to 100. That is a decrease of 12 (-10.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #147,253 to #155,682.
What does the Census say about the background of Cretaro?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cretaro, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (3.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Cretaro in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.0% (91 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Cretaro appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.0%), Hispanic (5.0%), Two or More Races (3.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Cretaro (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Cretaro mean?
A surname of Italian origin meaning a potter or maker of clay objects. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Cretaro (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Cretaro?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.