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

Potesta, 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 Potesta surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Potesta in America

Potesta is the 84463rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Potesta surname appeared 222 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 Potesta.

We can also compare 2010 data for Potesta 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 Potesta

The surname "POTESTA" is of Italian origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Italian word "podestà," which referred to the chief magistrate or ruler of a town or city in medieval Italy. The earliest known use of the name dates back to the 12th century in regions such as Tuscany, Lombardy, and Emilia-Romagna.

The name "POTESTA" is derived from the Latin word "potestas," which means power, authority, or dominion. It is likely that the name was initially given to individuals who held positions of power and authority in their respective communities.

Historical records mention several individuals bearing the surname "POTESTA" in various parts of Italy. One notable example is Guido da Potesta, a 13th-century Italian jurist and statesman from Parma. He served as a podestà (chief magistrate) in several cities, including Bologna and Florence.

Another prominent figure was Nicolò Potesta, a 14th-century Genoese admiral and explorer. He is credited with leading one of the earliest European expeditions to the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean.

The surname "POTESTA" can also be found in old manuscripts and chronicles from the medieval period. For instance, the "Cronaca di Parma" (Chronicle of Parma) mentions several individuals with the surname "POTESTA" who held influential positions in the city's government during the 13th and 14th centuries.

In the 15th century, a branch of the Potesta family settled in the region of Liguria, where they established themselves as prominent landowners and merchants. One notable member of this branch was Agostino Potesta (1466-1539), a wealthy merchant and banker who served as the ambassador of the Republic of Genoa to various European courts.

Another notable individual with the surname "POTESTA" was Giovanni Battista Potesta (1645-1723), an Italian painter and architect from Genoa. He is best known for his work in the Baroque style and his contributions to the design of several churches and palaces in Genoa and other parts of Italy.

Throughout history, the surname "POTESTA" has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, from rulers and statesmen to artists and merchants. While the name may have originated from positions of authority, it has evolved to represent a rich cultural heritage and a connection to the historical roots of Italy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Potesta

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

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

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

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