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Proto Family History

Proto Surname Meaning

Italian (southern): from Greek prōtos ‘first’ hence a name bestowed on the first born (male) child or in some cases possibly a short form of an occupational or status name formed with this element such as Protonotaro literally ‘first notary’.

This surname is also found in southern France.

Altered form of French Proteau or of its cognate Protot.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Proto family from?

You can see how Proto families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Proto family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Proto families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 5 Proto families living in Quebec. This was about 83% of all the recorded Proto's in Canada. Quebec had the highest population of Proto families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Proto surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Proto ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and New Worker were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Proto. 19% of Proto men worked as a Laborer and 20% of Proto women worked as a New Worker. Some less common occupations for Americans named Proto were New Worker and O.

View Census Data for Proto | 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, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    19%
  • Salesman
    7%
  • Barber
    6%
  • New Worker
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • New Worker
    20%
  • Seamstress
    12%
  • Machine Operator
    12%
  • O
    12%

What Proto family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Proto. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Proto census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Proto

Passenger Lists

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

View all Proto immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Proto. For the veterans among your Proto ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Proto military records

You've only scratched the surface of Proto family history

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What is the average Proto lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Proto life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1963. The average life expectancy for Proto in 1956 was 32, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Proto

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Proto 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.

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