Where Does the Preto Surname Come From?

Preto is how some branches of the Prieto family came to write their name. The name is generally explained as “Dark-complexioned”. Records show Preto as one of the forms Prieto took over time. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard.

You may also find the name written Prieta and Prietos.

A coat of arms belongs to a particular family line rather than to everyone named Preto, so the heraldry linked to Prieto is a starting point, not an automatic right. For the full story, order the Preto surname pack.