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

Liotta, 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 Liotta surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Liotta in America

Liotta is the 19266th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Liotta surname appeared 1,407 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 Liotta.

We can also compare 2010 data for Liotta 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 Liotta

The surname Liotta originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Sicily. It dates back to the medieval period and is believed to have derived from the Italian word "liotta," which means "riot" or "tumult." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who was known for their boisterous or unruly behavior.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Sicilian town of Sciacca, where a family bearing the name Liotta is mentioned in historical documents from the 13th century. The name may have also been influenced by the Sicilian word "liotta," which referred to a type of fishing net, indicating that some early bearers of the name may have been involved in the fishing industry.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Bartolomeo Liotta was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Palermo. His descendants continued to play an influential role in Sicilian affairs for several generations.

During the Renaissance period, the name appears in various records and manuscripts from across Italy. For example, in the 16th century, a scholar named Giovanni Liotta authored several treatises on philosophy and theology, which were widely read and debated in academic circles at the time.

Another notable individual with the surname Liotta was Vincenzo Liotta, a sculptor and architect who lived in the 17th century. He was renowned for his intricate and ornate works, many of which can still be seen adorning churches and public buildings throughout Sicily.

In the 19th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of Pasquale Liotta (1836-1908), a celebrated Sicilian painter known for his vivid depictions of everyday life and landscapes. His works are now held in several prestigious art collections across Italy and Europe.

As the name spread beyond its Sicilian origins, it also took on various spellings and variations, such as Lioto, Liotta-Musso, and Liottu. However, the core meaning and heritage of the name remained rooted in its Italian and specifically Sicilian origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Liotta

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

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

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

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