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

Leto, 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 Leto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leto in America

Leto is the 12095th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leto surname appeared 2,577 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Leto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leto 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 Leto

The surname Leto is believed to have originated in Italy, with its earliest records dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Latin word "laetus," meaning "joyful" or "happy." It was likely used as a descriptive surname, given to individuals with a cheerful or pleasant demeanor.

One of the earliest documented instances of the Leto surname can be found in the records of the city of Rome from the late 1500s. During this time, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Letto" and "Letti," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

In the 17th century, the Leto family established a presence in the town of Abruzzo, located in central Italy. Records from this period show several members of the Leto family holding prominent positions within the local community, including merchants and landowners.

By the 18th century, the Leto surname had spread to other regions of Italy, including Naples and Sicily. One notable figure from this time was Giovanni Leto (1720-1789), a renowned artist and sculptor from Naples. His works can still be found in various churches and museums throughout Italy.

As the Leto family continued to grow and expand, some members ventured beyond the borders of Italy. In the early 19th century, a branch of the family settled in the Spanish city of Barcelona, where they established a successful textile business. One of the most prominent members of this branch was Antonio Leto (1810-1875), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist.

Another prominent figure bearing the Leto surname was Maria Leto (1860-1932), an Italian opera singer who gained fame for her performances in various operas across Europe. She was particularly renowned for her portrayal of the lead role in Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca."

As the centuries passed, the Leto surname continued to spread across Europe and beyond. While its origins can be traced back to Italy, the name has since become part of the cultural tapestry of many countries and regions around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leto

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

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

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

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