Find out how popular the last name Aguayo is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Aguayo.

Aguayo, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Aguayo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Aguayo in America

Aguayo is the 2799th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Aguayo surname appeared 12,876 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Aguayo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Aguayo to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Aguayo

The surname Aguayo originates from Spain, specifically from the Basque region. Its roots can be traced back to the 12th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Basque word "aguayo," which means "shepherd" or "one who herds sheep."

In the early days, the name was closely associated with the pastoral lifestyle prevalent in the Basque Country. Many families bearing this surname were involved in shepherding and tending to flocks of sheep in the rugged mountain terrain of the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Aguayo can be found in the Becerro Galicano de las Behetrias, a manuscript from the 14th century that documented the names of landowners and their properties in the Kingdom of Castile.

During the 16th century, as the Spanish empire expanded, many individuals with the surname Aguayo ventured to the Americas as part of the conquests and colonization efforts. One notable figure was Diego de Aguayo, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico under Hernán Cortés in the early 1500s.

In the 18th century, Juan Isidro Aguayo y Olano, born in 1714, was a prominent Spanish military officer who served as the Governor of Texas from 1722 to 1726. His tenure was marked by efforts to establish settlements and fortify the region against French encroachment.

Another historical figure bearing this surname was Mariano Aguayo, a Mexican revolutionary who fought alongside Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla during the Mexican War of Independence in the early 19th century. He was born in 1781 and played a significant role in the struggle for Mexican independence from Spanish rule.

In the realm of literature, Jesús Aguayo García, a Spanish poet and writer born in 1919, gained recognition for his works that explored themes of identity, memory, and the human experience. His poetic collections, such as "Voz de la memoria" and "Senderos de la noche," earned him critical acclaim.

Throughout history, the surname Aguayo has been present in various regions, from its Basque origins to its spread across Spain and the Americas during the colonial era. It has been carried by individuals from diverse walks of life, including conquistadors, military leaders, revolutionaries, and literary figures, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of the areas where it has been prevalent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Aguayo

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Aguayo.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Aguayo was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Aguayo has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Aguayo was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Aguayo, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!