Explore the Family Name Gaetano
The meaning of Gaetano
Italian: from the personal name Gaetano, medieval Latin Caietanus, originally a Latin ethnic name denoting someone from Caieta in Latium (now Gaeta). According to legend the place was named after the elderly nurse of Aeneas, who died there after fleeing with him from the ruins of Troy. The name persisted among early Christians and was popular in the Middle Ages. The religious reformer Saint Gaetano (1480–1547) was born in Vicenza, a member of a Venetian noble family. He is not to be confused with his contemporary Cardinal Gaetano, an active opponent of Martin Luther. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Salvatore, Angelo, Dino, Francesco, Giovanni, Mauro, Nunzio, Pasquale, Primo, Rocco, Sal, Silvio.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gaetano in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Gaetano has seen subtle changes in its popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Gaetano ranked 21,004 among all surnames and jumped slightly to a rank of 21,672 in 2010 – a decrease in position by 3.18%. In terms of raw count, however, there was a slight increase of 3.09% from 1,166 in 2000 to 1,202 in 2010. This indicates that while more people bore the surname, other names rose in frequency at a faster rate. The proportion of individuals with this surname per 100,000 also decreased by 4.65% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,004 | #21,672 | -3.18% |
| Count | 1,166 | 1,202 | 3.09% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.43 | 0.41 | -4.65% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gaetano
When considering the ethnicity associated with the surname Gaetano, data derived from the Decennial U.S. Census shows minimal fluctuations between 2000 and 2010. Overwhelmingly, the name is associated with those identifying as White, representing 93.65% in 2000 and 93.59% in 2010. There was a modest increase in those identifying as Hispanic, up by 7.44% from 4.03% in 2000 to 4.33% in 2010. The category of "Two or more races" experienced a decline of 27.01%, going from 1.37% in 2000 to 1% in 2010. The proportions for Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian and Alaskan Native remained relatively static, with any changes falling within the margin of error.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.65% | 93.59% | -0.06% |
| Hispanic | 4.03% | 4.33% | 7.44% |
| Two or More Races | 1.37% | 1% | -27.01% |
| Black | 0.6% | 0.58% | -3.33% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.5% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |