Reta last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Reta

An Italian surname meaning "net" or derived from a place name related to nets or fishing.

Reta, 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 Reta surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reta in America

Reta is the 19087th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reta surname appeared 1,426 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 Reta.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reta 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 19087 22910 -18.21%
Count 1,426 1,043 31.02%
Proportion per 100k 0.48 0.39 20.69%

The history of the last name Reta

The surname "Reta" is believed to have originated in Italy, particularly in the regions of Tuscany and Umbria, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Italian word "rete," which means "net" or "network," suggesting that the name may have been associated with professions related to fishing or net-making.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Reta" can be traced back to the 13th century in the town of Perugia, Umbria. In a document dated 1278, a certain "Guglielmo Reta" is mentioned as a merchant involved in the trade of textiles and fishing nets.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in the records of the city of Florence, Tuscany. A notable figure bearing this name was Matteo Reta, a renowned painter and fresco artist who lived between 1330 and 1410. Some of his works can still be found in the churches and palaces of Florence, showcasing his skill in religious and mythological themes.

The surname "Reta" also has a connection to the city of Siena, Tuscany, where it was associated with a noble family that held significant influence during the Renaissance period. One member of this family, Giovanni Reta (1455-1522), served as a diplomat and ambassador for the Republic of Siena, representing the city's interests in negotiations with other Italian city-states.

In the 16th century, the name "Reta" gained prominence in the Venetian Republic, where it was linked to a family of skilled glassmakers. Marco Reta (1510-1578), a renowned master glassblower, was renowned for his intricate and colorful creations, which were highly sought after by wealthy patrons across Europe.

Another notable figure with the surname "Reta" was Domenico Reta (1670-1745), a Baroque-era architect from Naples. He was responsible for designing several churches and palaces in the city, including the Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Palazzo Reale.

Throughout its history, the surname "Reta" has been associated with various professions, from merchants and artisans to diplomats and artists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reta

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

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 Reta was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 9.82% 140
Non-Hispanic Black Only 9.33% 133
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 1.40% 20
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 79.31% 1,131

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 Reta has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 9.82% 12.66% -25.27%
Black 9.33% 4.79% 64.31%
Asian and Pacific Islander 1.40% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% 1.15% (S)%
Hispanic 79.31% 80.35% -1.30%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Reta last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/reta-surname-popularity/.

"Reta last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/reta-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Reta last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/reta-surname-popularity/.

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