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

Petero, 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 Petero surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Petero in America

Petero is the 146011th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Petero surname appeared 104 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Petero.

The history of the last name Petero

The surname Petero has its origins in southern Europe, specifically in the regions that form part of modern-day Spain and Italy. The name emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th and 13th centuries. It is believed that Petero is derived from the Latin name Petrus, which means "rock" or "stone." This root name, Petrus, was widely used in Christian contexts, given its association with Saint Peter, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ and often considered the foundation of the Church.

Early appearances of the surname Petero can be traced back to ecclesiastical records and land grants in medieval Spain. For instance, a notable mention appears in a 13th-century Spanish manuscript detailing land ownership in Andalusia. The document refers to one Don Juan Petero, a landowner whose family was involved in olive oil production. This suggests that the Petero family held some social status and economic influence during that period.

In Italy, the surname Petero can be found in parish records dating back to the early 14th century, particularly in the region of Tuscany. A significant early reference is found in a record from 1321 that mentions a Giuliano Petero, who was a mercenary captain in the service of a local noble family. Such records indicate that the surname was relatively widespread and associated with varying social roles, from landowners to military personnel.

One of the earliest documented uses of the Petero surname outside of these contexts is in a 15th-century Genoese maritime logbook which lists a sailor by the name of Marco Petero, born in 1437 and active in Mediterranean trade routes. This entry highlights the mobile nature of individuals bearing this surname, likely contributing to its spread across southern Europe through trade and exploration.

By the 16th century, the surname had made its way into historical chronicles and legal documents. Another prominent figure is Clara Petero, born in 1515, who was involved in a legal dispute over a vineyard near Barcelona. Her case, preserved in municipal archives, gives an insight into the legal and social standing of women bearing this surname in early modern Spain.

A later notable mention is Andrés Petero, a 17th-century Spanish botanist known for his extensive manuscripts on Iberian flora, born in 1609 and died in 1673. His works are preserved in several European libraries and highlight the intellectual lineage associated with the Petero name.

Overall, the surname Petero encapsulates a rich history intertwined with the socio-economic, military, and intellectual fabric of medieval and early-modern southern Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Petero

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Petero 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.

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

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

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