Explore the Family Name Petito
The meaning of Petito
Italian: nickname for a small man (or an ironic nickname for a tall one), from dialect petito ‘small’ or from the personal name Petito; compare French Petit. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Angelo, Carmine, Pasquale, Antonio, Rocco, Alfonzo, Alphonso, Antimo, Emilio, Giovanni, Giuseppe, Orazio, Salvatore, Silvio, Tullio, Virginio.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Petito in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Petito has seen a drop in popularity over a 10-year period from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Petito ranked 25,076 in popularity with 928 individuals bearing the name, a proportion of 0.34 per 100,000 people. By 2010, however, the rank had fallen to 29,626 and the count of individuals named Petito decreased to 795, meaning a lower proportion of 0.27 per 100,000 people. This represents a decrease in popularity of -18.14% and a count change of -14.33%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,076 | #29,626 | -18.14% |
| Count | 928 | 795 | -14.33% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.34 | 0.27 | -20.59% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Petito
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts between 2000 and 2010. The majority of those with the surname Petito identified as White, though this percentage decreased slightly from 95.58% to 93.96% over the decade. The Hispanic population with the Petito surname saw a significant increase, rising by 100.44% from 2.26% to 4.53%. Meanwhile, individuals identifying as two or more races disappeared from the data entirely in 2010, after constituting 1.62% in 2000. The Asian/Pacific Islander category also emerged in 2010 at 0.75%, while the Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native categories remained apparently unchanged with no individuals identified under the Petito surname.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.58% | 93.96% | -1.69% |
| Hispanic | 2.26% | 4.53% | 100.44% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.75% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.62% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |