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

Erato, 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 Erato surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Erato in America

Erato is the 114424th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Erato surname appeared 153 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 Erato.

We can also compare 2010 data for Erato 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 Erato

The surname Erato has its origins in ancient Greece, deriving from the Greek word "ἐρατός" (eratos), which means "lovely" or "desirable." It is believed to have emerged as a surname during the Byzantine era, when it was common practice to adopt surnames based on personal characteristics, occupations, or place names.

Erato was also the name of one of the nine Muses in Greek mythology, the Muse of lyric poetry and hymns. This association with the arts and literature may have contributed to the adoption of Erato as a surname by individuals or families involved in these fields.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Erato can be found in the Codex Vatopedinus, a medieval Greek manuscript dating back to the 11th century. This manuscript contains a list of names, including several individuals bearing the surname Erato.

During the 14th century, the name Erato appeared in several historical records from the Byzantine Empire. One notable figure was Theodoros Erato, a scholar and calligrapher who lived in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) around 1350. His works have been preserved in various monasteries and libraries throughout Europe.

In the 16th century, a family with the surname Erato was documented in the Venetian Republic, particularly in the city of Crete. One member, Antonio Erato (1520-1585), was a renowned poet and playwright who contributed to the flourishing of Cretan literature during the Renaissance period.

Another prominent figure bearing the surname Erato was Ioannis Erato (1675-1741), a Greek scholar and philosopher who lived in the era of the Ottoman Empire. He was known for his works on logic, metaphysics, and ethics, and his teachings influenced generations of scholars in the region.

In more recent history, the name Erato has been associated with notable individuals in various fields. For example, Demetrios Erato (1820-1895) was a Greek merchant and philanthropist who contributed significantly to the development of education and healthcare in his homeland.

While the surname Erato is not widely common today, it continues to hold a connection to its Greek roots and the rich cultural heritage associated with the Muses and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Erato

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

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

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

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