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

Peto, 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 Peto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peto in America

Peto is the 37848th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peto surname appeared 587 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 Peto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peto 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 Peto

The surname PETO is of English origin, deriving from an old French nickname meaning "fat" or "stout." It first appeared in historical records during the 13th century and was common in areas like Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PETO name dates back to the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is listed as "Petou." This suggests that the modern spelling evolved from an earlier French form. The name may also be linked to the Old English word "potta," meaning a potbellied person.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several entries for places like Peto's Croft in Warwickshire and Peto's Farm in Gloucestershire, indicating that the surname was likely derived from a place name influenced by a person with this nickname.

Notable bearers of the PETO surname include Sir William Peto (c.1423-1492), a prominent English merchant and land owner during the Wars of the Roses. Another early figure was Cardinal William Peto (c.1485-1558), a Franciscan friar and influential religious reformer under King Henry VIII.

During the 16th century, the PETO name gained prominence with Sir Edward Peto (c.1510-1572), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Middlesex. His grandson, Sir Edward Peto (c.1550-1618), was a respected judge and legal scholar.

In the 17th century, Sir Samuel Peto (1609-1699) was a successful merchant and Lord Mayor of London. His descendant, Sir Morton Peto (1809-1892), became a renowned civil engineer and builder, responsible for constructing many railways and public works projects across Britain and Europe.

Throughout history, the PETO surname has been associated with individuals of notable wealth, status, and achievement, particularly in the fields of commerce, law, and engineering. Despite variations in spelling, the name's origins can be traced back to medieval England and a descriptive nickname reflecting physical stature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peto

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

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

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

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