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

Modesto, 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 Modesto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Modesto in America

Modesto is the 16087th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Modesto surname appeared 1,800 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 Modesto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Modesto 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 Modesto

The surname Modesto originated in Italy, with its earliest recorded usage dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Italian word "modesto," which means "modest" or "humble." The name likely originated as a descriptive surname given to someone who exhibited these qualities.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Modesto can be found in a document from the city of Modena, dated 1187. This document mentions a certain "Petrus Modestus," suggesting that the name was already in use by that time.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Modesto was particularly prevalent in the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany, where it was associated with various noble families. In the 14th century, a branch of the Modesto family settled in the city of Florence, where they became influential merchants and bankers.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Giovanni Modesto (1420-1489) was a renowned scholar and humanist from Verona. He was highly respected for his contributions to the fields of literature and philosophy.

Another prominent individual with the surname Modesto was Girolamo Modesto (1572-1632), a Venetian painter who was known for his religious works and portraits. His paintings can be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy.

In the 18th century, a family with the surname Modesto gained prominence in the city of Naples. One of its members, Antonio Modesto (1714-1782), was a respected lawyer and judge who served in the Neapolitan court.

During the 19th century, the Modesto surname spread further across Italy and beyond. Pietro Modesto (1804-1876), a native of Genoa, was a notable explorer and naturalist who contributed significantly to the study of flora and fauna in South America.

Throughout history, the surname Modesto has been associated with a diverse range of professions and achievements, reflecting the varied backgrounds and experiences of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Modesto

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

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

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

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