Explore the Family Name Rita
The meaning of Rita
Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Catalan: from the female personal name Rita, a shortened form of Margharita ‘Margaret’, chosen in particular in honor of a 15th-century Italian saint who bore the name in this form. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Antonio, Angelo, Alfredo, Carmine, Donato, Italo, Pino, Vito. Spanish Carlos, Jose, Primitivo, Jaime, Josefina, Manuel, Norberto.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Rita in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Rita has seen a significant increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Rita was ranked 20,219th in popularity among all surnames, with 1,225 individuals carrying it. By 2010, the rank had risen to 17,385th, with an increased count of 1,624 people having this surname. This indicates a notable change of 14.02% in rank and a 32.57% rise in count over the decade. The proportion of individuals with this surname per 100,000 people also grew by 22.22%, from 0.45 to 0.55.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,219 | #17,385 | 14.02% |
| Count | 1,225 | 1,624 | 32.57% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.45 | 0.55 | 22.22% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rita
The Decennial U.S. Census data on the ethnicity of those bearing the surname Rita shows varying trends. The Asian/Pacific Islander group saw a slight growth of 11.02%, increasing from 9.71% in 2000 to 10.78% in 2010. However, the percentage of those identifying with two or more races declined by 26.01%, from 8.65% to 6.40%. White individuals holding the surname Rita decreased by 10.72%, dropping from 66.69% to 59.54%. A significant surge is seen within the Hispanic community, where the percentage went up by 60.21%, from 12.49% to 20.01%. No changes were observed in the Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native communities, as the percentages remained at zero for both 2000 and 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 66.69% | 59.54% | -10.72% |
| Hispanic | 12.49% | 20.01% | 60.21% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 9.71% | 10.78% | 11.02% |
| Two or More Races | 8.65% | 6.4% | -26.01% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |