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

Aguila, 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 Aguila surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Aguila in America

Aguila is the 5683rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Aguila surname appeared 6,103 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Aguila.

We can also compare 2010 data for Aguila 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 Aguila

The surname Aguila originated in Spain during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Spanish word "águila," which means "eagle." This name likely referred to a person who displayed qualities associated with the eagle, such as strength, courage, and keen vision.

The earliest recorded use of the name Aguila can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various medieval records and documents. It is believed that the name was initially concentrated in the regions of Andalusia and Castile, where it gained popularity among noble families.

One notable historical reference to the name Aguila can be found in the chronicles of the Spanish conquest of the Americas. During this period, several individuals bearing this surname played significant roles in the exploration and colonization of the New World. For instance, Juan de Aguila (1495-1569) was a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico.

Another prominent figure with the surname Aguila was Diego de Aguila (1560-1628), a Spanish military officer and governor of the Philippines from 1617 to 1624. He played a crucial role in fortifying the Spanish stronghold in the Pacific and defending it against Dutch and Portuguese incursions.

In the realm of arts and literature, one cannot overlook the contributions of Cristóbal de Aguila (1527-1603), a Spanish playwright and poet known for his works in the Golden Age of Spanish literature.

Moving beyond Spain, the surname Aguila also found its way to the Americas, where it became prevalent in various regions. One notable individual was Miguel Aguila (1785-1861), a Venezuelan military leader and politician who played a pivotal role in the Venezuelan War of Independence against Spanish colonial rule.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning Juan Aguila (1537-1602), a Spanish architect and engineer who was instrumental in the construction of several iconic buildings and fortifications in Spain and its colonies, including the famous El Morro fortress in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and legacy associated with the surname Aguila, which has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, spanning multiple centuries and countries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Aguila

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

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 Aguila 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 Aguila 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 Aguila was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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