Plato
An ancient Greek surname derived from the Greek word "platus" meaning broad or wide.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,028 Americans carry the last name Plato. That puts it at #27,354 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.30 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 333,419 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Plato surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
1.0K
1 in 333,419
Census rank
#27,354
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
883
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 883 bearers of the surname Plato in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.30 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 27354th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Plato, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.4%. The next largest groups are Black (13.4%) and Hispanic (5.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Plato
The surname Plato originated in ancient Greece and is derived from the Greek word "platos," which means "broad" or "wide." This surname was likely given to someone with a broad or sturdy physique.
Plato is a name with a rich historical significance, as it was the name of one of the most influential philosophers of ancient Greece. Plato, born around 428 BC in Athens, was a student of Socrates and the founder of the Academy, one of the earliest known institutions of higher learning in the Western world.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Plato can be traced back to medieval times in various parts of Europe, particularly in regions with strong ties to Greek culture and history, such as Italy and the Byzantine Empire.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Plato was Giovanni Plato, an Italian philosopher and theologian who lived in the 13th century. He was known for his works on logic and metaphysics.
Another notable figure with the surname Plato was Andronikos Plato, a Greek scholar and philosopher who lived in the 15th century. He was instrumental in the revival of Platonic philosophy during the Renaissance period.
In the 16th century, the surname Plato was found in England, where it was likely introduced by Greek scholars fleeing the Ottoman Empire. One such individual was Peter Plato, a Greek scholar who taught at the University of Cambridge in the late 16th century.
The 17th century saw the emergence of a prominent family with the surname Plato in the Netherlands. One of the most notable members of this family was Peter Plato, a Dutch statesman and diplomat who served as the ambassador to England in the late 17th century.
Another individual of note was Johann Plato, a German philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 18th century. He made significant contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics, and his works were widely studied in academic circles.
While the surname Plato has its roots in ancient Greece, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals of Greek descent or those with an interest in Greek philosophy and culture.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Plato
Among Census respondents with the surname Plato, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.4%. The next largest groups are Black (13.4%) and Hispanic (5.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Plato bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Plato surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White78.4%
- Black or African American13.4%
- Hispanic or Latino5.0%
- Two or more races1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Plato surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #24,763 | #27,354 | -10.5% |
| Count | 944 | 883 | -6.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.35 | 0.30 | -14.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Plato bearers went from 944 to 883 (-6.5% change). The surname moved down 2,591 positions in the national ranking, going from #24,763 to #27,354.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Plato
FAQ
Plato surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Plato?
The surname Plato holds position #27,354 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,028 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.30 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Plato surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Plato, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.4%. The next largest groups are Black (13.4%) and Hispanic (5.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.