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Motto Family History

Motto Name Meaning

Italian: when not a masculinized form of Motta from a shortened pet form of a personal name ending in -mo such as Guglielmo Giacomo . Scottish: perhaps a habitational name from a lost place called with Middle English motte ‘fortified stronghold’ + ho(e) ‘ridge hill’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Motte, Motta, Mott, Matto, Lotto, Gotto, Mont, Notte, Mato, Gitto

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Motto family from?

You can see how Motto families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Motto family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Motto families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 2 Motto families living in Ohio. This was about 50% of all the recorded Motto's in USA. Ohio had the highest population of Motto families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Motto surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Motto ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Motto. 24% of Motto men worked as a Laborer and 14% of Motto women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Motto were Barber and Seamstress. .

View Census Data for Motto | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    24%
  • Helper
    6%
  • Truck Driver
    6%
  • Barber
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    14%
  • Operator
    14%
  • Housework
    7%
  • Seamstress
    7%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Motto family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Motto. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Motto census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Motto

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Motto. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Motto immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Motto. For the veterans among your Motto ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Motto military records

You've only scratched the surface of Motto family history

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What is the average Motto lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Motto life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Motto in 1949 was 51, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Motto

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Motto family tree

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