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

Platt, 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 Platt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Platt in America

Platt is the 2006th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Platt surname appeared 18,022 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Platt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Platt 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 Platt

The surname PLATT has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the early 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "platt," which means a small piece of ground or a flat area of land. This suggests that the name may have originally been given to someone who lived near or owned a flat piece of land.

The earliest known recording of the surname PLATT can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1182, where it appears as "Radulphus Platt." The Pipe Rolls were a record of financial transactions made between landowners and the Crown, indicating that the PLATT family likely held a prominent position in the local community at that time.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their properties commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several references to place names that may be related to the PLATT surname. For instance, the village of Platten in Derbyshire is mentioned, as well as Platts in Yorkshire.

One notable early bearer of the PLATT surname was Sir Hugh Platt (1552-1608), an English writer and inventor who authored several books on gardening, agriculture, and scientific topics. He is remembered for his contributions to the development of early modern horticulture and his innovative ideas on methods of cultivation.

Another significant figure was John Platt (1728-1808), an English industrialist and inventor who played a crucial role in the development of the cotton spinning industry during the Industrial Revolution. He is credited with several important innovations in the spinning process, which greatly improved the efficiency and productivity of textile manufacturing.

In the realm of literature, Thomas Platt (1833-1910) was an English novelist and poet who gained recognition for his works, including "The Bard of the Dimbovitza" and "The Dimbovitza: A Model for Poets." His writings often explored themes of nature and rural life.

Oliver Platt (born 1960) is a contemporary American actor known for his roles in films such as "Flatliners," "The Three Musketeers," and the television series "The West Wing." He has received critical acclaim for his versatile acting abilities and has been nominated for several awards throughout his career.

Lastly, Sir Hugh Platt (1552-1608), mentioned earlier, had a son named Gabriel Platt (1600-1678), who followed in his father's footsteps as a writer and horticulturist. He authored several works on gardening and agriculture, further contributing to the family's legacy in the field of horticulture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Platt

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

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

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

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