NameCensus.

UK surname

Cato

An ancient Roman cognomen derived from the Latin word "catus," meaning "wise" or "shrewd."

In the 1881 census there were 404 people recorded with the Cato surname, ranking it #7,919 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 995, ranked #5,822, up from #7,919 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Pancras, Tring and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chiltern, Liverpool and Aylesbury Vale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cato is 1,064 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 146.3%.

1881 census count

404

Ranked #7,919

Modern count

995

2016, ranked #5,822

Peak year

2010

1,064 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cato had 404 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,919 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 995 in 2016, ranked #5,822.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 490 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Cato surname distribution map

The map shows where the Cato surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Cato surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cato over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 280 #8,043
1861 historical 91 #22,206
1881 historical 404 #7,919
1891 historical 292 #11,351
1901 historical 455 #8,641
1911 historical 490 #7,943
1997 modern 914 #5,906
1998 modern 950 #5,901
1999 modern 971 #5,840
2000 modern 958 #5,894
2001 modern 927 #5,944
2002 modern 962 #5,858
2003 modern 960 #5,789
2004 modern 972 #5,731
2005 modern 949 #5,786
2006 modern 947 #5,807
2007 modern 975 #5,723
2008 modern 994 #5,675
2009 modern 1,021 #5,672
2010 modern 1,064 #5,590
2011 modern 1,017 #5,741
2012 modern 1,018 #5,655
2013 modern 1,034 #5,686
2014 modern 1,028 #5,726
2015 modern 997 #5,818
2016 modern 995 #5,822

Geography

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Where Catos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Pancras, Tring, Liverpool, West Derby and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chiltern, Liverpool, Aylesbury Vale, Sunderland and Stevenage. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 St Pancras London (North Districts)
2 Tring Hertfordshire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chiltern 002 Chiltern
2 Liverpool 040 Liverpool
3 Aylesbury Vale 009 Aylesbury Vale
4 Sunderland 025 Sunderland
5 Stevenage 002 Stevenage

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cato

These lists show first names that appear often with the Cato surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cato

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cato, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Cato surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Cato household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Cato is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cato is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cato falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cato is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cato, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cato

The surname Cato is of Latin origin, and it is believed to have originated in ancient Rome. The name is derived from the Latin word "catus," which means "wise" or "prudent." It was initially a nickname given to individuals who were considered to be intelligent and discerning.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cato can be found in the writings of ancient Roman authors such as Plutarch and Cicero. They mention Marcus Porcius Cato, also known as Cato the Elder (234-149 BC), a renowned Roman statesman, orator, and writer. He was famous for his unwavering adherence to traditional Roman values and his opposition to the influence of Hellenistic culture in Rome.

During the Middle Ages, the name Cato appeared in various legal and administrative documents across Europe. For example, the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, includes several entries mentioning individuals with the surname Cato.

In the 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, the famous English poet, made reference to a character named Cato in his work "The Canterbury Tales." This literary reference suggests that the name was in use in medieval England.

One notable bearer of the Cato surname was Marco Antonio Cato (1518-1597), an Italian philosopher and theologian who played a significant role in the Renaissance humanist movement. He was known for his translations of ancient Greek and Roman texts and his contributions to the study of classical literature.

Another prominent figure with the surname Cato was Marco Antonio de Dominis (1566-1624), a Dalmatian Catholic bishop and scientist. He made important contributions to the field of optics and was involved in the scientific debates surrounding the heliocentric model of the universe proposed by Galileo Galilei.

In the 18th century, John Cato (1728-1806), an English author and poet, gained recognition for his works on agriculture and rural life. His book "Letters on the Utility and Policy of Employing Poor People in Public Labour" (1781) addressed issues related to poverty and employment.

Throughout history, the surname Cato has been associated with individuals from various backgrounds, including scholars, writers, philosophers, and statesmen. While its origins can be traced back to ancient Rome, the name has since spread across Europe and beyond, carrying with it connotations of wisdom and intelligence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cato families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cato surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 109 Catos recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.77x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 109 2.77x
Hertfordshire 57 20.98x
Oxfordshire 43 17.67x
Lancashire 38 0.81x
Northumberland 26 4.43x
Surrey 23 1.20x
Cambridgeshire 15 6.01x
Buckinghamshire 13 5.46x
Bedfordshire 11 5.39x
Norfolk 10 1.65x
Essex 9 1.16x
Ayrshire 8 2.71x
Berkshire 8 2.70x
Leicestershire 8 1.83x
Yorkshire 7 0.18x
Durham 4 0.34x
Northamptonshire 4 1.08x
Cheshire 3 0.34x
Lanarkshire 2 0.16x
Cornwall 1 0.22x
Cumberland 1 0.29x
Devon 1 0.12x
Glamorgan 1 0.15x
Gloucestershire 1 0.13x
Worcestershire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tring in Hertfordshire leads with 35 Catos recorded in 1881 and an index of 482.76x.

Place Total Index
Tring 35 482.76x
Kirtlington 29 2989.69x
St Pancras London 25 7.88x
Islington London 18 4.71x
Shoreditch London 14 8.19x
Byker 11 37.94x
Hackney London 11 4.98x
Great Yarmouth 10 19.92x
Toxteth Park 10 6.32x
Luton 9 25.48x
Marsworth 9 1451.61x
St Giles In Fields London 9 46.56x
Aldbury 8 650.41x
Girvan 8 108.11x
St Paul Walden 8 579.71x
Clapham 7 14.21x
Grays Thurrock 7 96.82x
Holy Trinity 7 7.45x
Liverpool 7 2.46x
Newington 7 4.81x
St Anne Soho London 7 31.10x
Wallingford St Leonard 7 507.25x
Westgate 7 19.28x
North Meols 6 13.11x
Whitwick 6 107.91x
Chiswick 5 23.22x
West Derby 5 3.65x
Everton 4 2.68x
Hammersmith London 4 4.12x
Orwell 4 370.37x
Thame 4 90.29x
Wellingborough 4 21.46x
Westcote Barton 4 1250.00x
Westoe 4 6.02x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 2.94x
Great Eversden 3 833.33x
Hexham 3 33.08x
Ivinghoe 3 161.29x
Kingston 3 769.23x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 9.87x
Oxton 3 60.98x
St Albans 3 53.86x
St Andrewthe Less 3 10.52x
St Marylebone London 3 1.43x
Steeple Barton 3 241.94x
Barony 2 0.62x
Bermondsey 2 1.70x
Caddington 2 66.89x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.15x
Ealing 2 5.68x
Hampstead London 2 3.26x
Kensington London 2 0.91x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.88x
Manchester 2 0.95x
Oxford St Giles 2 17.23x
Tynemouth 2 6.37x
Walthamstow 2 7.14x
Westminster St James 2 4.94x
Acton 1 4.33x
Ardwick 1 2.37x
Bishop Stortford 1 11.03x
Bladon 1 120.48x
Cheltenham 1 1.68x
Croydon 1 0.94x
East Claydon 1 217.39x
Godalming 1 8.27x
Kenwyn 1 8.57x
Kimpton 1 78.74x
Kings Norton 1 2.17x
Lambeth 1 0.29x
Merton 1 126.58x
New Windsor 1 10.06x
Petersham 1 131.58x
Richmond 1 3.72x
Roath 1 3.21x
South Mimms 1 18.52x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.26x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.44x
Thriplow 1 161.29x
Toft 1 285.71x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cato surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cato surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 29
John 20
George 19
Thomas 15
Charles 14
Henry 8
Edward 7
Frederick 7
James 7
Edwin 5
Robert 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Joseph 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Alexander 2
Arthur 2
Chas. 2
Eli 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Thos. 2
Wilson 2
Alick 1
Anslio 1
Asherton 1
Bertie 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Fredk. 1
Hawbery 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Mark 1
Michael 1
R.A. 1
Shadrack 1
Shadwell 1
Sidney 1
W.James 1
Webster 1
Willie 1
Willm.Fredk. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Cato surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cato surname in 1881?

In 1881, 404 people were recorded with the Cato surname. That placed it at #7,919 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cato surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 995 in 2016. That gives Cato a modern rank of #5,822.

What does the Cato surname mean?

An ancient Roman cognomen derived from the Latin word "catus," meaning "wise" or "shrewd."

What does the Cato map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cato bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.