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Alto Family History

Alto Surname Meaning

Altered form of Finnish Aalto. Italian Spanish and Portuguese: nickname for a big man from alto ‘tall big’.

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


Similar surnames

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Alto family from?

You can see how Alto families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Alto family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Alto families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 4 Alto families living in Lincolnshire. This was about 80% of all the recorded Alto's in United Kingdom. Lincolnshire had the highest population of Alto families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Alto surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Alto ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housework were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Alto. 27% of Alto men worked as a Laborer and 27% of Alto women worked as a Housework. Some less common occupations for Americans named Alto were New Worker and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Alto | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    27%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Carpenter
    12%
  • New Worker
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housework
    27%
  • Waitress
    16%
  • Maid
    16%
  • Stenographer
    12%

What Alto family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Alto. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Alto census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Alto

Passenger Lists

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

View all Alto immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Alto. For the veterans among your Alto ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Alto military records

You've only scratched the surface of Alto family history

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What is the average Alto lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Alto life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Alto in 1952 was 46, and 74 in 2004.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Alto ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Alto family tree

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