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Very Rare Last name

Katt

An occupational surname referring to a cat herder or cat keeper.

According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 994 Americans carry the last name Katt. That puts it at #27,707 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.29 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 344,823 residents).

This page is the full Name Census profile for the Katt surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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

994

1 in 344,823

Census rank

#27,707

2010 decennial data

Per 100,000

0.3

Frequency rate

Recorded bearers

868

very rare in the US

Popularity narrative

The Census Bureau recorded 868 bearers of the surname Katt in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.29 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 27707th position in the national surname ranking.

Among Census respondents with the surname Katt, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.5%).

Origin

Meaning and origin of Katt

The surname KATT originates from Sweden and dates back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Old Swedish word "katt," which means "cat." The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who had a close association with cats or exhibited cat-like characteristics.

One of the earliest documented instances of the KATT surname can be found in the Swedish Census Records of 1590, which mentions a family by the name of Katt residing in the village of Kattarp, located in the southern region of Skåne.

In the 17th century, the KATT surname gained prominence in the historical records of Sweden. A notable figure was Johan Katt, a merchant and shipowner from Gothenburg, who lived between 1635 and 1702. He played a significant role in establishing trade routes between Sweden and other European countries.

The KATT surname also appeared in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landholders in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name was recorded as "Catt," which was likely an anglicized version of the Swedish "Katt."

During the 18th century, the KATT surname continued to spread across Scandinavia. One prominent individual was Carl Katt, a Swedish military officer and explorer who lived from 1722 to 1789. He is renowned for his expeditions to the Arctic regions and his contributions to the mapping of northern territories.

Another notable figure was Brita Katt, a Swedish author and poet who lived from 1755 to 1828. She was renowned for her passionate writings on women's rights and social justice, which were considered groundbreaking for her time.

In the 19th century, the KATT surname found its way to North America through Swedish immigration. One of the earliest recorded instances was Gustav Katt, a Swedish immigrant who settled in Minnesota in the 1870s. He became a successful farmer and contributed to the development of the local agricultural community.

Another prominent individual was Anna Katt, a Swedish-American educator who lived from 1865 to 1947. She founded several schools in Minnesota and played a crucial role in promoting education among Swedish-American communities.

As the KATT surname spread across the globe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Kat, Kath, and Katte, reflecting the linguistic adaptations in different regions.

Demographics

Ancestry and ethnicity for Katt

Among Census respondents with the surname Katt, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.5%).

The bar chart below shows how Katt bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.

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 Katt surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.

  • White94.1%
  • Hispanic or Latino2.8%
  • Asian and Pacific Islander1.5%
  • Black or African American0.8%

Year on year

2010 vs 2010 Census

How has the Katt surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.

Census year comparison

20102010
Bearer countPer 100,000 residents20102010201020108688680.30.3
Metric 2010 2010 Change
Rank #27,707 #27,707 0.0%
Count 868 868 0.0%
Per 100K 0.29 0.29 0.0%

Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Katt bearers went from 868 to 868 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #27,707 to #27,707.

Notable bearers

Famous people with the surname Katt

FAQ

Katt surname: questions and answers

How common is the last name Katt?

The surname Katt holds position #27,707 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 994 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.29 per 100,000 Americans.

What is the ethnic background of the Katt surname?

Among Census respondents with the surname Katt, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.

Where does this surname data come from?

All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.

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There are 994 people

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Katt

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