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

Sotto, 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 Sotto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sotto in America

Sotto is the 34801st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sotto surname appeared 649 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 Sotto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sotto 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 Sotto

The surname Sotto originates from Italy, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "sotto," which means "under" or "beneath." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived or worked in lower-lying areas or beneath someone of higher status.

One of the earliest known references to the Sotto name can be found in the records of the city of Bologna, where a certain Giovanni Sotto was mentioned in a document from 1275. Additionally, a legal text from the same period in Genoa refers to a Guglielmo Sotto, indicating the widespread use of the name across different regions of Italy during that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various historical records, including the Codice Diplomatico Padovano, a collection of diplomatic documents from the city of Padua. One notable mention is that of a Niccolò Sotto, who was a merchant and landowner in the region.

As the centuries progressed, the Sotto family established themselves in various parts of Italy, with some members achieving notable positions and recognition. One such individual was Antonio Sotto (1480-1548), a renowned architect from Venice who contributed to the design and construction of several important buildings, including the Palazzo Ducale.

Another famous bearer of the Sotto name was Girolamo Sotto (1572-1631), a philosopher and theologian from Modena. He was renowned for his scholarly works on metaphysics and natural philosophy, and his ideas influenced many intellectuals of his time.

In the 18th century, the Sotto family gained prominence in the field of music. Pietro Sotto (1708-1778), a composer and violinist from Naples, was highly regarded for his instrumental compositions and operas, which were performed in various courts across Europe.

The name Sotto can also be traced back to various place names in Italy, such as Sotto il Monte, a town in the province of Bergamo, and Sottomarina, a coastal area near Venice. These place names may have contributed to the formation and propagation of the surname in their respective regions.

Throughout history, the Sotto name has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, scholars, merchants, and professionals, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and contributions of this Italian surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sotto

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

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

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

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