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

Alcaraz, 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 Alcaraz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alcaraz in America

Alcaraz is the 3098th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alcaraz surname appeared 11,616 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 Alcaraz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Alcaraz 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 Alcaraz

The surname Alcaraz originated in Spain during the Middle Ages, deriving from the Arabic phrase "Al Qaraz," which translates to "the oak grove." This suggests that the name's bearers hailed from or resided near an area abundant with oak trees.

The earliest recorded instances of the Alcaraz surname can be traced back to the Reconquista period in the 13th century, when Christian kingdoms gradually reclaimed territories previously controlled by the Moors. As the Spanish forces regained control over regions like Albacete, Murcia, and Andalusia, the name Alcaraz began appearing in historical records and documents.

One notable example is the presence of the Alcaraz surname in the Repartimiento de Sevilla, a 13th-century manuscript that documented the distribution of land and properties among those who aided in the reconquest of Seville. This indicates that individuals bearing the Alcaraz name played a role in this significant historical event.

The town of Alcaraz, located in the province of Albacete, is believed to be the origin of the surname. This town's name is derived from the Arabic "Al Qaraz," further reinforcing the surname's connection to this region and its historical Arabic influences.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the Alcaraz surname. One example is Pedro de Alcaraz, a 15th-century Spanish explorer and conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico. Another prominent individual was Juan de Alcaraz, a 16th-century Spanish military officer and a participant in the conquest of Peru under Francisco Pizarro.

In the realm of literature, María de Alcaraz (1610-1674) was a Spanish poet and playwright known for her works in the Golden Age of Spanish literature. Her literary contributions shed light on the cultural and artistic aspects of the era.

Moving into the 18th century, Andrés de Alcaraz y Ladrón de Guevara (1732-1810) was a Spanish military officer and governor of Spanish East Florida during the American Revolutionary War. His role in the defense of Florida against British and American forces highlights the surname's presence in important historical events.

In the field of art, Isidoro Celada Alcaraz (1815-1883) was a Spanish painter and engraver known for his landscapes and religious works. His artistic contributions further enriched the cultural legacy associated with the Alcaraz surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alcaraz

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Alcaraz, 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!