Explore the Family Name Loreto
The meaning of Loreto
Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian: from a short form of a Marian name, Portuguese Maria do Loreto, Italian Maria di Loreto, a reference to the placename Loreto in Ancona province, Italy, the center of a cult of the Virgin Mary dating from the 15th century. Loreto is the site of the Santa Casa, the childhood home of the Virgin Mary, which according to legend was miraculously transported by angels from Nazareth to Loreto in the 13th century. The placename is from Latin lauretum ‘place of laurels’. Compare Loretto. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Carlos, Javier, Pedro, Adelino, Agapito, Alejandro, Alfonso, Candelario, Cirilo, Consuelo, Eduardo, Ernesto. Italian Albertina, Amedeo, Ciro, Filippo, Leonardo, Remo, Salvator.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Loreto in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Loreto has significantly grown in popularity over the years. In 2000, Loreto ranked as the 25,591st most common surname, while by 2010 it had risen to the 19,703rd position, marking a 23.01% increase in rank. During this same time period, the count of individuals with the Loreto surname also increased from 906 to 1,367, which translates to a massive 50.88% surge. The proportion of people named Loreto per 100,000 residents in the U.S. likewise swelled by 35.29%, demonstrating that the name's occurrence became more frequent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,591 | #19,703 | 23.01% |
| Count | 906 | 1,367 | 50.88% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.34 | 0.46 | 35.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Loreto
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts between 2000 and 2010. The Hispanic ethnicity was the most associated with the Loreto surname, increasing from 64.46% to 71.40%, reflecting an upswing of 10.77%. Meanwhile, white individuals carrying the surname dropped from 20.86% to 15.80%, a decrease of 24.26%. The percentage of Asian/Pacific Islanders with the Loreto name also fell by 17.41%, even as those identifying with two or more races rose notably from 0.55% to 1.39%. Notably, the proportions for Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native categories both dropped to zero in 2010, though it's important to remember that this could be due to data suppression for privacy reasons.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 64.46% | 71.4% | 10.77% |
| White | 20.86% | 15.8% | -24.26% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 12.58% | 10.39% | -17.41% |
| Two or More Races | 0.55% | 1.39% | 152.73% |
| Black | 0.99% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.55% | 0% | 0% |