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

Maisto, 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 Maisto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Maisto in America

Maisto is the 66371st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Maisto surname appeared 298 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 Maisto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Maisto 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 Maisto

The surname Maisto is of Italian origin, with its roots traced back to the 14th century in the southern regions of Italy, particularly in the provinces of Campania and Calabria. The name is believed to be derived from the Latin word "magister," meaning "master" or "teacher," which later evolved into the Italian word "maestro."

During the Middle Ages, the term "maestro" was commonly used to refer to skilled craftsmen or artisans, such as carpenters, stonemasons, or blacksmiths. It is possible that the surname Maisto was initially given to individuals who excelled in a particular craft or trade, with the name serving as a recognition of their mastery in their respective fields.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Maisto can be found in historical documents from the city of Naples, dating back to the late 14th century. These documents reference a certain Giovanni Maisto, a skilled artisan who specialized in metalwork and was renowned for his craftsmanship.

As the name spread across the Italian peninsula, it underwent slight variations in spelling, such as Maesta, Maiesto, and Maiesta, reflecting local dialects and regional influences. However, the core meaning and pronunciation remained largely unchanged.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Maisto, including:

1. Giacomo Maisto (1548-1622), a prominent Italian painter and sculptor from Naples, known for his work in the Mannerist and early Baroque styles.
2. Carlo Maisto (1699-1771), an Italian architect and military engineer who designed several fortifications and public buildings in the Kingdom of Naples.
3. Giuseppe Maisto (1808-1892), an Italian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Italian Parliament during the early years of the unified Kingdom of Italy.
4. Vincenzo Maisto (1879-1957), an Italian painter and art critic, renowned for his landscapes and still-life paintings depicting the beauty of southern Italy.
5. Antonio Maisto (1918-2005), an Italian actor and film director, best known for his roles in several classic Italian cinema productions during the 1950s and 1960s.

While the surname Maisto has remained relatively uncommon outside of Italy, it continues to hold significance within Italian cultural heritage, reflecting the country's rich history of skilled artisans, craftsmen, and tradespeople who have contributed to the nation's artistic and architectural legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Maisto

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

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

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

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