Explore the Family Name Catt
The meaning of Catt
1. English (Sussex and Kent): nickname from Middle English c(h)at ‘cat’ (Old English catt, Norman and Picard Old French cat, Parisian Old French chat). The word is found in similar forms in most European languages from very early times (e.g. Gaelic cath, Old Slavic kotъ). Domestic cats were unknown in Europe in classical times, when weasels fulfilled many of their functions, for example in hunting rodents. They seem to have come from Egypt, where they were regarded as sacred animals. 2. English: occasionally, perhaps from an unrecorded Middle English female personal name Cat, a pet form of Catelin ‘Catherine’. See Catlin. Alternatively, perhaps from an unrecorded Middle English personal name Cat(te) or Chat(te), a survival of Old C(e)atta, which is well attested in placenames. 3. Americanized form of North German Katt.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Catt in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Catt saw a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 13,341st most common surname, falling to 14,571st in 2010, demonstrating a change of -9.22%. The count of individuals with this surname also fell from 2,096 to 2,044, marking a -2.48% change. Furthermore, the proportion of people with the surname Catt per 100k decreased by -11.54%, from 0.78 in 2000 to 0.69 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,341 | #14,571 | -9.22% |
| Count | 2,096 | 2,044 | -2.48% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.78 | 0.69 | -11.54% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Catt
The Decennial U.S. Census data also provides valuable insights into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Catt. Between 2000 and 2010, there was a significant increase of 163.46% in the Asian/Pacific Islander category, moving from 0.52% to 1.37%. The American Indian and Alaskan Native category also saw an increase, from 1.05% to 1.86%, a change of 77.14%. The ethnicity identified as Hispanic increased by 46.07%, from 1.91% to 2.79%. Those identifying as two or more races slightly decreased by -8.98%, while the Black category saw a sharp drop from 3.44% to 0.98%, indicating a -71.51% change. The White category remained fairly stable, with a minor increase from 91.41% to 91.49%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.41% | 91.49% | 0.09% |
| Hispanic | 1.91% | 2.79% | 46.07% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.05% | 1.86% | 77.14% |
| Two or More Races | 1.67% | 1.52% | -8.98% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.52% | 1.37% | 163.46% |
| Black | 3.44% | 0.98% | -71.51% |