Explore the Family Name Vito
The meaning of Vito
Italian: from the personal name Vito, Latin Vitus ‘lively, energetic’, from vita ‘life’ (compare Vita). The name was popular in the Middle Ages as the result of the cult of an early Christian martyr in southern Italy, about whom very little is known. He was regarded as a patron against epilepsy and the nervous tremor named after him, ‘St. Vitus’s dance’. His cult spread into Germany and thence through Eastern Europe, where the name was reinforced by native Slavic names such as Vitoslav and Vitomir, with the first element most likely derived from Old Slavic vitъ ‘loot, wealth’ (see also Wit). It may also derive in part from the Langobardic name Wido or Frankish Wit(t)o (see Guido). Some characteristic forenames: Italian Antonio, Pasquale, Angelo, Carmine, Constantino, Gennaro, Giuseppe, Leonardo, Lia, Nunzio, Remo, Salvatore.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Vito in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Vito has seen a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Vito was ranked the 15,590th most popular surname, but by 2010, it had dropped to become the 16,462nd most common surname, representing a decrease of 5.59%. However, the actual count of individuals with this surname slightly increased from 1,721 in 2000 to 1,746 in 2010, marking a growth of 1.45%. The proportion per 100k also declined by 7.81% over this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #15,590 | #16,462 | -5.59% |
| Count | 1,721 | 1,746 | 1.45% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.64 | 0.59 | -7.81% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Vito
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the surname Vito, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of those identifying as White decreased by 6.11%, while the proportions of Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic identities increased by 34.87% and 33.61% respectively. Individuals reporting two or more races also saw an increase, going up by 32.26%. There were no changes in the reported percentages for Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native identities.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 85.53% | 80.3% | -6.11% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 8.66% | 11.68% | 34.87% |
| Hispanic | 3.6% | 4.81% | 33.61% |
| Two or More Races | 1.86% | 2.46% | 32.26% |
| Black | 0.35% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |