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

Pretto, 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 Pretto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pretto in America

Pretto is the 55741st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pretto surname appeared 368 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 Pretto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pretto 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 Pretto

The surname Pretto is of Italian origin, believed to have originated in the region of Veneto during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Italian word "pretto," meaning "pure" or "genuine." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone considered to be of pure character or lineage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pretto can be found in the archives of the Republic of Venice, dating back to the 13th century. In a document from 1287, a nobleman named Marco Pretto is mentioned as a signatory on a trade agreement with the city of Genoa.

The Pretto name appears to have been particularly prevalent in the Venetian city of Treviso during the Renaissance era. A notable figure from this time was the architect and sculptor Andrea Pretto, born in Treviso in 1470. He was renowned for his work on several churches and palaces in the region, including the Church of San Nicolò and the Palazzo dei Trecento in Treviso.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Pretto family settled in the town of Belluno, where they became influential landowners and merchants. One prominent member was Girolamo Pretto (1608-1682), a successful businessman and philanthropist who founded a hospital and orphanage in the town.

The Pretto surname also has a presence in other parts of Italy, including Piedmont and Sicily. In the late 18th century, a Sicilian painter named Giuseppe Pretto (1759-1838) gained recognition for his religious and historical works, many of which can still be found in churches and museums across the island.

Another notable figure with the Pretto surname was the Italian politician and jurist Guido Pretto (1887-1963). Born in Vicenza, he served as a member of the Italian Parliament and played a significant role in drafting the country's post-World War II constitution.

While the Pretto name has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration. However, this detailed history focuses solely on the surname's origins and early recorded instances within the Italian peninsula.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pretto

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

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

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

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