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

Ratto, 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 Ratto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ratto in America

Ratto is the 25771st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ratto surname appeared 956 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 Ratto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ratto 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 Ratto

The surname Ratto has its origins in Italy, tracing back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Italian word "ratto," which means "rat" or "mouse." The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or as a toponymic surname referring to a place associated with rats or mice.

In the 13th century, a notable individual named Niccolò Ratto was mentioned in historical records as a prominent merchant and diplomat from the Republic of Genoa. He played a significant role in negotiating treaties and fostering trade relations between Genoa and other Mediterranean powers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ratto can be found in the registers of the city of Piacenza, dating back to the 14th century. The name appeared in various spellings, including Ratto, Ratti, and Rato, reflecting the regional linguistic variations of the time.

During the Renaissance period, the Ratto family gained prominence in the city of Florence. Giorgio Ratto (1436-1499) was a renowned architect and sculptor, renowned for his contributions to the construction of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, the city's iconic cathedral.

In the 16th century, Giovanni Battista Ratto (1512-1588) was a notable Italian mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and was recognized for his work on improving the accuracy of astronomical calculations.

Another prominent figure with the surname Ratto was Cesare Ratto (1618-1676), a skilled Baroque painter from the city of Genoa. His works, often depicting religious scenes and portraits, can be found in various churches and galleries across Italy.

The surname Ratto also has a connection to the island of Corsica, where it was borne by several notable individuals. One such figure was Giovanni Ratto (1765-1835), a military leader who played a pivotal role in the Corsican resistance against French occupation during the Napoleonic era.

Over the centuries, the surname Ratto has been associated with various families and individuals across Italy, reflecting the rich cultural and historical diversity of the Italian peninsula. While the name's origins may have been humble, its legacy spans across various fields, including art, science, and military endeavors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ratto

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

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

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

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