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

DiRito, 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 DiRito surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DiRito in America

DiRito is the 115639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DiRito surname appeared 151 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 DiRito.

We can also compare 2010 data for DiRito 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 DiRito

The surname DIRITO is of Italian origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period in the region of Calabria, located in southern Italy. The name is believed to be derived from the Latin term "directus," meaning "straight" or "upright," possibly referring to an ancestor's physical characteristics or personal qualities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DIRITO surname can be found in the "Codice Diplomatico Barese," a collection of historical documents from the 11th and 12th centuries, where a certain "Robertus de Rito" is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have initially been spelled as "de Rito" before evolving into its current form.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the DIRITO name appears in various records from the towns of Cosenza and Reggio Calabria, indicating that the family had established roots in these areas. In 1327, a document from the city of Naples mentions a "Petrus de Rito," indicating the possible spread of the name beyond Calabria.

Historically, the DIRITO surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Giovanni Battista Dirito, a renowned philosopher and theologian born in Cosenza in the late 16th century. He authored several works on metaphysics and religious doctrine, earning him recognition among the intellectual circles of his time.

Another prominent bearer of the DIRITO name was Antonio Dirito, a 17th-century painter and fresco artist from Reggio Calabria. His works adorned numerous churches and palaces throughout southern Italy, showcasing his mastery of the Baroque style.

In the 18th century, Francesco Dirito made his mark as a distinguished jurist and legal scholar. Born in Catanzaro in 1712, he served as a judge and authored influential treatises on civil and canon law, contributing to the development of jurisprudence in the region.

Moving into the 19th century, Giuseppe Dirito, a military officer and patriot from Cosenza, played a significant role in the unification of Italy. He fought alongside Giuseppe Garibaldi's famous "Expedition of the Thousand" in 1860, contributing to the liberation of southern Italy from foreign rule.

Finally, in the early 20th century, Carmela Dirito (1890-1976) gained recognition as a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. Born in Reggio Calabria, she established several schools and organizations aimed at promoting education and empowerment for women, leaving a lasting impact on her community.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DiRito

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

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

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

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