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

Toronto, 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 Toronto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Toronto in America

Toronto is the 49723rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Toronto surname appeared 422 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 Toronto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Toronto 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 Toronto

The surname Toronto is believed to have originated in Canada, specifically in the area around the city of Toronto, Ontario. The name is thought to have derived from the Iroquoian word "tkaronto," which roughly translates to "where there are trees standing in the water." This is a reference to the wooden stakes or poles that were used by the indigenous Mississauga people to create fish weirs in the marshes near the shores of Lake Ontario.

The earliest recorded use of the name Toronto can be traced back to the late 16th century, when it appeared in French missionary records and maps of the region. One of the earliest known individuals to bear the surname Toronto was Jacques Toronto, a French fur trader and explorer who lived in the early 17th century and was known for his interactions with the First Nations people in the area.

In the mid-18th century, the name Toronto gained further prominence when the British established a trading post and fort near the present-day city. The fort was known as Fort Toronto, and the surrounding area became known as the Toronto Carrying-Place, an important portage route for fur traders and travelers.

Throughout the 19th century, the name Toronto became more widely used as a surname, particularly among families living in and around the growing city of Toronto. Notable individuals with the surname Toronto during this period include John Toronto, a prominent businessman and landowner in the 1820s, and Mary Toronto, a respected schoolteacher and community leader in the 1860s.

One of the most famous individuals to bear the surname Toronto was William Toronto, a Canadian soldier and decorated war hero who served in the First World War. Born in 1895, William Toronto earned numerous medals and honors for his bravery and leadership during the Battle of Vimy Ridge and other major conflicts. He later became a prominent advocate for veterans' rights and served as a member of the Canadian Parliament until his death in 1976.

Other notable individuals with the surname Toronto include Emily Toronto, a renowned artist and sculptor in the early 20th century, and James Toronto, a pioneering aviator and one of the first Canadians to earn a pilot's license in the 1920s.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Toronto

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

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

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

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