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

Alcala, 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 Alcala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alcala in America

Alcala is the 2029th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alcala surname appeared 17,758 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Alcala.

We can also compare 2010 data for Alcala 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 Alcala

The surname Alcala originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish place name "Alcalá," which comes from the Arabic word "al-qal'a" meaning "the castle" or "the citadel." This suggests that the name likely originated among individuals who lived in or near a castle or fortified town.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Alcala can be found in medieval Spanish records and documents. One notable example is Pedro de Alcala, a Spanish grammarian and linguist who lived from around 1490 to 1554. He is known for his work in translating and publishing an Arabic-Spanish dictionary and grammar book, which helped facilitate communication and cultural exchange between the two societies.

Another prominent figure with the surname Alcala was Jerónimo de Alcalá Yáñez y Ribera, a Spanish nobleman and military commander who lived from around 1560 to 1632. He served as the Governor of Milán and was a member of the prestigious Order of Santiago.

In the 17th century, the name appears in records related to the Spanish colonization of the Americas. One example is Juan de Alcala, a Spanish soldier and explorer who participated in the conquest of Mexico in the early 1500s.

During the 18th century, the surname Alcala was associated with several notable figures in the Spanish arts and literature. One such individual was Antonio Alcalá Galiano, a Spanish writer, politician, and diplomat who lived from 1789 to 1865. He was known for his literary works, including novels and plays, as well as his involvement in Spanish politics during a turbulent period of the country's history.

In the 19th century, the surname Alcala gained prominence in the field of medicine. One notable figure was Juan Alcalá Zamora, a Spanish physician and politician who lived from 1828 to 1899. He served as the Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts in Spain and made significant contributions to the field of public health and medical education.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable figures associated with the surname Alcala, which has its roots in medieval Spain and has since spread across the globe through Spanish exploration, colonization, and cultural influence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alcala

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

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

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

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