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

Aguilar, 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 Aguilar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Aguilar in America

Aguilar is the 134th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Aguilar surname appeared 186,512 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 63 people would have the surname Aguilar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Aguilar 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 Aguilar

The surname Aguilar originated in Spain and is derived from the Spanish word "águila," meaning "eagle." It arose as a locational surname, often given to someone who lived near an eagle's nest or a place associated with eagles.

The name traces its roots back to the 13th century, with early records showing variations like Aguilera and Aguilario in regions like Aragon, Castile, and Andalusia. These areas were once home to large populations of eagles, which may have influenced the naming convention.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Pedro Aguilar, a Spanish nobleman and military commander who served under King Alfonso X in the 13th century. He played a crucial role in the Reconquista, the campaign to reclaim Spain from Moorish control.

In the 15th century, the Aguilar family gained prominence in the city of Córdoba, where they established themselves as a noble and influential clan. Juan Aguilar (1470-1545), a member of this family, was a renowned poet and humanist scholar during the Renaissance era.

The name also has a connection to the Spanish conquistadors who explored and colonized the Americas. Jerónimo de Aguilar (1489-1531) was a Spanish missionary who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in 1519. He played a crucial role as an interpreter and mediator between the Spanish and the indigenous populations.

Another notable figure was Gaspar de Aguilar (1561-1623), a Spanish naval commander and explorer who led several expeditions to the Pacific Ocean and the Philippines in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

In the realm of literature, the name is associated with the Spanish writer and philosopher Miguel de Aguilar (1718-1784), known for his works on ethics and moral philosophy.

As the Spanish empire expanded, the Aguilar surname spread to various parts of the world, including Latin America, where it remains a common surname today. Notable bearers include Manuel Aguilar (1865-1927), a Mexican revolutionary and politician, and Paloma Aguilar (born 1975), a Mexican actress and television host.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Aguilar

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

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

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

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