Latta
An English and Scottish topographic surname referring to a person who lived near a bog or marsh.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 7,164 Americans carry the last name Latta. That puts it at #5,642 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.09 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 47,844 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Latta 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
7.2K
1 in 47,844
Census rank
#5,642
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,155 bearers of the surname Latta in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.09 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5642nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Latta, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.3%. The next largest groups are Black (9.6%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Latta
The surname Latta originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Middle English word 'lat', meaning a barn or outhouse for storing crops. The name was likely initially used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near or worked in such a building.
The earliest recorded instances of the Latta surname can be found in Scottish records from the 13th century. One of the earliest documented individuals with this name was John de Lath, who was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1290.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including Lath, Lathe, and Laithe, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling of the time. One notable bearer of the name during this period was William Lath, a landowner in Berwickshire, who was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296.
The Latta surname is also associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Lathalmond in Fife and Lathockar in Lanarkshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in certain regions.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Latta surname. One of the earliest was John Latta, a Scottish merchant and landowner who lived in the 16th century (c. 1540-1610). Another prominent figure was James Latta, a Scottish minister and author born in 1672, who wrote influential works on theology.
In the 18th century, Samuel Latta (1722-1801) was a Presbyterian minister and educator who founded Latta Plantation in North Carolina. His grandson, James Latta (1779-1858), was a prominent lawyer and judge in South Carolina.
Another notable bearer of the Latta name was Raphael Semmes Latta (1838-1909), a Confederate officer during the American Civil War who later became a lawyer and judge in Mississippi.
The Latta surname has also been associated with various industries and professions over the centuries, including agriculture, trade, and law. While the name originated in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Latta
Among Census respondents with the surname Latta, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.3%. The next largest groups are Black (9.6%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Latta 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 Latta surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White83.3%
- Black or African American9.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Two or more races2.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Latta surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,642 | #5,642 | 0.0% |
| Count | 6,155 | 6,155 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 2.09 | 2.09 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Latta bearers went from 6,155 to 6,155 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #5,642 to #5,642.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Latta
FAQ
Latta surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Latta?
The surname Latta holds position #5,642 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 7,164 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.09 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Latta surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Latta, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.3%. The next largest groups are Black (9.6%) and Hispanic (2.6%). 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.