Explore the Family Name Proto
The meaning of Proto
1. Italian (southern): from Greek prōtos ‘first’, hence a name bestowed on the first born (male) child or, in some cases, possibly a short form of an occupational or status name formed with this element, such as Protonotaro, literally ‘first notary’. This surname is also found in southern France. 2. Altered form of French Proteau or of its cognate Protot. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Salvatore, Cosmo, Gaetano, Antonio, Pasquale, Vincenzo, Angelo, Biagio, Carlo, Carmela, Carmelo, Carmine.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Proto in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Proto experienced a slight fluctuation in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the rank of this surname was 20,665, however it fell slightly to 21,009 by 2010, representing a decrease of 1.66%. Despite this drop in rank, the actual count of individuals with the Proto surname increased by 5.21% from 1,190 in 2000 to 1,252 in 2010. However, when considering proportion per 100k individuals, there was a small decrease of 4.55% from 0.44 in 2000 to 0.42 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,665 | #21,009 | -1.66% |
| Count | 1,190 | 1,252 | 5.21% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.44 | 0.42 | -4.55% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Proto
When looking at the ethnic identity associated with the surname Proto, data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals some changes between 2000 and 2010. The majority of Protos identified as White, although there was a slight decrease from 94.54% in 2000 to 92.73% in 2010. There were no individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year. Those identifying with two or more ethnicities decreased by 38.98%, and those identifying as Black also saw a decrease of 33.33%. Interestingly, there was a significant increase in the Hispanic category, with a rise of 93.03% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.54% | 92.73% | -1.91% |
| Hispanic | 2.44% | 4.71% | 93.03% |
| Black | 1.68% | 1.12% | -33.33% |
| Two or More Races | 1.18% | 0.72% | -38.98% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |