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

Presto, 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 Presto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Presto in America

Presto is the 25810th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Presto surname appeared 954 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 Presto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Presto 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 Presto

The surname Presto is believed to have originated in Italy during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Italian word "presto," which means "quick" or "swift." The name likely arose as a nickname or descriptor for someone who was known for their speed or efficiency.

In the early 14th century, the name Presto appeared in various records and documents from the region of Tuscany, particularly in the cities of Florence and Siena. One of the earliest recorded instances was in a manuscript dated 1327, which mentioned a merchant named Guido Presto from the town of Arezzo.

Over the centuries, the name Presto spread to other parts of Italy, and variations in spelling emerged, such as Presti, Prestini, and Prestoni. These variations often indicated different regional dialects or the addition of suffixes to denote familial relationships.

In the 15th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Presto was Antonio Presto (1417-1489), a renowned painter and fresco artist from the city of Pisa. His works can still be admired in various churches and buildings throughout the region.

Another prominent individual with the Presto surname was Giovanni Battista Presto (1563-1627), a Jesuit priest and scholar from Naples. He was renowned for his extensive writings on theology and philosophy, and his works were widely distributed throughout Europe during the Renaissance period.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Presto name also appeared in records from the city of Genoa, where several members of the family were involved in the maritime trade and held positions within the city's government.

One of the most famous bearers of the Presto surname was Carlo Presto (1716-1786), a celebrated composer and violinist from Venice. His compositions for violin and orchestra were highly regarded and performed throughout Europe during the Baroque era.

In the 19th century, the Presto name gained prominence in the field of literature with the writer and poet Giuseppe Presto (1823-1891) from Milan. His works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, earning him critical acclaim and a dedicated following.

While the surname Presto originated in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by Italian immigrants and their descendants. However, the historical roots and significance of this name can be traced back to its origins in the beautiful regions of Italy during the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Presto

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

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

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

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