Reto last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Reto

A variant spelling of the Spanish surname Reto, derived from the word reto meaning "challenge" or "dare."

Reto, 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 Reto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reto in America

Reto is the 118853rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reto surname appeared 146 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 Reto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reto 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 118853 113519 4.59%
Count 146 143 2.08%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.05 0.00%

The history of the last name Reto

The surname RETO originates from Italy and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "retto," meaning "upright" or "honest," suggesting that the name may have been initially bestowed upon someone who possessed these virtuous qualities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RETO surname can be found in the medieval archives of the city of Florence, where a certain Guido RETO was mentioned in a document dated 1287. This record suggests that the RETO family may have originated from the Tuscan region of Italy.

During the Renaissance period, the RETO name appears to have gained prominence, with several notable figures bearing this surname. One such individual was Antonio RETO, a renowned painter from Verona who lived from 1492 to 1556. His works adorned various churches and palaces throughout northern Italy, showcasing his mastery of the Renaissance style.

In the 17th century, the RETO name found its way into the annals of Italian literature through the works of Giambattista RETO, a celebrated poet and playwright from Naples. Born in 1620, RETO's plays and sonnets were widely acclaimed for their wit and emotional depth, earning him a place among the literary greats of his time.

The 18th century saw the rise of another prominent figure bearing the RETO surname – Vincenzo RETO, a skilled architect and engineer from Milan. Born in 1743, RETO's innovative designs and construction methods were highly sought after, and he was responsible for the construction of several landmark buildings and bridges throughout northern Italy.

In more recent history, the RETO name has been associated with the world of science and academia. One notable example is Carlo RETO, an Italian physicist and professor who made significant contributions to the field of quantum mechanics. Born in 1892, RETO's pioneering work laid the foundation for many modern advancements in particle physics.

While the RETO surname may have originated from a single region in Italy, it has since spread across the globe, carried by generations of individuals who have left their mark on various fields and disciplines. Despite its geographical dispersion, the name continues to retain its Italian roots and the rich history that has shaped its legacy over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reto

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

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 Reto was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 70.55% 103
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 26.03% 38

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 70.55% 76.92% -8.64%
Black (S)% 4.20% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 26.03% 18.18% 35.51%

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!

"Reto last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 16, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/reto-surname-popularity/.

"Reto last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/reto-surname-popularity/. Accessed 16 December, 2024

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

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