Explore the Family Name Couto
The meaning of Couto
Portuguese: habitational name from any of numerous places called with couto ‘enclosed pasture’ (from Late Latin cautum, from the past participle of cavere ‘to make safe’). In some cases the name may be topographic. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Manuel, Carlos, Luis, Horacio, Jorge, Mario, Ernesto, Juan, Miguel, Sergio, Armando. Portuguese Joao, Agostinho, Guilherme, Joaquim, Adao, Albano, Duarte, Henrique, Margarida, Serafim, Sil, Valentim.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Couto in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Couto fluctuated mildly between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 10,363 in popularity with a count of 2,848 individuals holding that name. This represented a proportion of 1.06 per 100,000 people. By 2010, its rank slightly decreased to 10,478 but the count increased to 3,066, showing a change or growth of 7.65%. However, its proportion per 100,000 dipped by 1.89% to 1.04.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,363 | #10,478 | -1.11% |
| Count | 2,848 | 3,066 | 7.65% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.06 | 1.04 | -1.89% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Couto
The same Decennial U.S. Census data illustrates changes in the ethnic identity associated with the surname Couto. In 2000, the majority of individuals with this surname identified as White (80.37%) followed by Hispanic (11.69%). Those identifying as Black made up 1.69%, while a small fraction reported belonging to two or more races (5.41%). There were no reports of this surname among Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native populations. By 2010, the percentage of Whites had increased slightly to 81.25%. The Hispanic identification also rose significantly by 26.95% to 14.84%. There was a minor increase in those identifying as Black, from 1.69% to 1.92%. However, there was a sharp decline in those reporting two or more races, dropping by 78.37% to only 1.17%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 80.37% | 81.25% | 1.09% |
| Hispanic | 11.69% | 14.84% | 26.95% |
| Black | 1.69% | 1.92% | 13.61% |
| Two or More Races | 5.41% | 1.17% | -78.37% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Couto ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Couto is Spanish & Portuguese, which comprises 63.0% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (13.8%) and French & German (6.9%). Additional ancestries include Indigenous American, Italian, Eastern European, Levantine, and Greek & Balkan.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Spanish & Portuguese | 63.0% |
| British & Irish | 13.8% |
| French & German | 6.9% |
| Other | 16.3% |
Possible origins of the surname Couto
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Couto have recent ancestry locations in Portugal and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Madeira, Portugal | 66.70% |
| Azores, Portugal | 66.70% |
| Aveiro District, Portugal | 64.60% |
| Lisbon, Portugal | 64.60% |
| Coimbra District, Portugal | 61.60% |
What Couto haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Couto is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-P312 and E-M183, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Furtado, Motta, Barros, Gallego, Sequeira, Sousa, Monteiro, Melo, Emmert, Rivero.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Couto surname are: M, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Couto have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Couto" Surname 42.9%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Couto" Surname 35.7%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Couto" Surname 22.6%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Couto" Surname 21.8%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Couto?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Couto are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition