Explore the Family Name Motto
The meaning of Motto
1. Italian: when not a masculinized form of Motta, from a shortened pet form of a personal name ending in -mo, such as Guglielmo, Giacomo. 2. Scottish: perhaps a habitational name from a lost place called with Middle English motte ‘fortified stronghold’ + ho(e) ‘ridge, hill’. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Rocco, Salvatore, Carmela, Carmelo, Carmine, Primo, Vita.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Motto in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname 'Motto' saw a decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, 'Motto' was ranked as the 16,783rd most popular surname, but by 2010 it had slipped to the 18,262nd spot, marking an 8.81% drop in rank. The number of people carrying the 'Motto' surname also declined slightly during this period, from 1,566 in 2000 to 1,521 in 2010, translating to a 2.87% reduction.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,783 | #18,262 | -8.81% |
| Count | 1,566 | 1,521 | -2.87% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.58 | 0.52 | -10.34% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Motto
The ethnicity associated with the surname 'Motto' diversified over the same decade according to the Decennial U.S. Census. While the largest proportion of individuals identifying with the 'Motto' surname self-identified as White (91.63% in 2000 and 88.1% in 2010), there were notable increases among those identifying as Black or Hispanic. Identification as Black rose from 1.34% to 2.37%, representing a 76.87% increase, while the Hispanic population increased from 5.81% to 7.5%, a 29.09% change. Those identifying with two or more races increased by 26.51%, from 0.83% in 2000 to 1.05% in 2010. However, Asian/Pacific Islander identification disappeared entirely from the 2010 census, down from 0.38% in 2000. There was no reported identification as American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.63% | 88.1% | -3.85% |
| Hispanic | 5.81% | 7.5% | 29.09% |
| Black | 1.34% | 2.37% | 76.87% |
| Two or More Races | 0.83% | 1.05% | 26.51% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.38% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |