2000
#121,780
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 131
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Netta
A surname derived from Greek netta, meaning "duck" or "gosling".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 132 Americans carry the last name Netta. That puts it at #145,757 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,596,624 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Netta surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
132
1 in 2,596,624
Census rank
#145,757
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
115
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 115 bearers of the surname Netta in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 145757th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Netta, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Black (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Netta
The surname Netta originates from Italy, with its roots traced back to the medieval era. It is believed to be a variation of the Italian word "netto," meaning "clean" or "pure." The name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals known for their virtuous character or impeccable conduct.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Netta can be found in the historic city of Florence during the 13th century. The name appears in several municipal records and legal documents from that period, indicating its presence among the local population.
In the 14th century, the Netta family gained prominence in the region of Emilia-Romagna. Historical archives mention a nobleman named Guglielmo Netta (1312-1378), who served as a respected magistrate in the city of Parma. His reputation for fair judgment and impartial rulings earned him widespread admiration.
The name Netta also has ties to the coastal town of Nettuno, located near Rome. It is speculated that some families may have adopted the surname as a reference to their place of origin or residence in this seaside community.
During the Renaissance period, the Netta surname gained further recognition with the birth of the renowned artist and architect, Giovanni Netta (1486-1553). His exceptional skills in painting and architectural design were celebrated throughout Italy, and his works adorned numerous churches and public buildings.
In the 18th century, a prominent figure bearing the Netta surname was Marcello Netta (1725-1798), a respected philosopher and educator. His writings on ethics and moral philosophy influenced generations of scholars and contributed to the intellectual discourse of the time.
Another notable individual with the surname Netta was Emilia Netta (1822-1898), a pioneering feminist and activist who fought for women's rights and equal opportunities in education and employment. Her tireless efforts paved the way for significant societal changes in Italy during the 19th century.
While the Netta surname may not be as widespread as some others, its rich history and notable bearers have left an indelible mark on Italian culture and society throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Netta
Among Census respondents with the surname Netta, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Black (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Netta bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Netta surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.0% · 107
- Black or African American2.6% · 3
- Two or more races1.7% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Netta
Netta appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#146,201
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
-18 bearers (-13.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 24,421 places
2020
#145,757
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
+2 bearers (+1.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 444 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #121,780 | 131 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #146,201 | 113 | 0.04 | -18 bearers (-13.7%) | Down 24,421 places |
| 2020 | #145,757 | 115 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.8%) | Up 444 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Netta surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #146,201 | #145,757 | 0.3% |
| Count | 113 | 115 | 1.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -3.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Netta bearers went from 113 to 115 (+1.8% change). The surname moved up 444 positions in the national ranking, going from #146,201 to #145,757.
FAQ
Netta surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Netta?
Name Census estimates that about 132 living Americans carry the surname Netta. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,596,624 residents.
How common is Netta?
Netta ranks #145,757 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 115 people with the surname Netta. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (132), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Netta.
Has Netta become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Netta went from 113 recorded bearers to 115. That is an increase of 2 (+1.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #146,201 to #145,757.
What does the Census say about the background of Netta?
Among Census respondents with the surname Netta, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Black (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Netta in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.0% (107 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Netta appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.0%), Black (2.6%), Two or More Races (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Netta (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Netta mean?
A surname derived from Greek netta, meaning "duck" or "gosling". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Netta (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Netta?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.