Tato
A surname derived from a shortened form of a personal name or nickname.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Tato. That puts it at #95,115 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Tato surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#95,115
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
192
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 192 bearers of the surname Tato in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 95115th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Tato, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 39.6%. The next largest groups are White (34.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (14.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Tato
The surname TATO is believed to have originated in Italy during the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Latin word "tata," which was a term of endearment used for grandfathers or elderly men. This nickname may have been given to an ancestor who was advanced in age or had a grandfatherly demeanor.
In its earliest forms, the name was often spelled "Tata" or "Tatti" in Italian records and documents. As the surname spread throughout the Italian peninsula, regional variations in spelling began to emerge, including "Tato" and "Tatto."
One of the earliest known references to the TATO surname can be found in the Codice Diplomatico Longobardo, a collection of historical documents from the Lombard Kingdom in Italy, dating back to the 8th century. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time.
During the Renaissance period, several notable individuals bore the TATO surname. One such person was Pietro Tato, a renowned painter from Venice who lived in the 16th century and was known for his religious artwork adorning churches throughout the city.
In the 17th century, the TATO name appeared in the records of the Inquisition in Sicily, where a man named Vincenzo Tato was accused of heresy but later exonerated. This historical reference provides insight into the geographical spread of the surname across different regions of Italy.
Another significant figure was Antonio Tato, a philosopher and theologian from Naples who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He wrote extensively on metaphysics and ethics, and his works were widely studied in academic circles of the time.
In the 19th century, Giuseppe Tato was a prominent Italian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy. He was an influential figure in the early years of the unified Italian state and played a role in shaping its legal system.
The TATO surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Italy. For example, there is a small village called Tato in the province of Reggio Calabria, which may have influenced the spelling and spread of the surname in that region.
Overall, the TATO surname has a rich history deeply rooted in Italian culture and heritage, with records spanning several centuries and various notable individuals who have carried this name throughout the years.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Tato
Among Census respondents with the surname Tato, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 39.6%. The next largest groups are White (34.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (14.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Tato bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Tato surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino39.6%
- White34.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander14.6%
- Black or African American6.8%
- Two or more races4.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Tato surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #95,115 | #95,115 | 0.0% |
| Count | 192 | 192 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Tato bearers went from 192 to 192 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #95,115 to #95,115.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Tato
FAQ
Tato surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Tato?
The surname Tato holds position #95,115 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Tato surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Tato, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 39.6%. The next largest groups are White (34.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (14.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.