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

Alcayaga, 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 Alcayaga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alcayaga in America

Alcayaga is the 131379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alcayaga surname appeared 129 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Alcayaga.

The history of the last name Alcayaga

The surname Alcayaga originates from Spain, tracing its roots back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "alcayata," which refers to a particular type of metal hook or nail used in construction. This connection suggests that the name may have originally been associated with occupations related to metalworking or construction.

In its earliest forms, the name appeared in various Spanish manuscripts and records as "Alcayata," "Alcayaga," or "Alcaýaga." These spellings reflect the phonetic variations that occurred over time as the name was passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the "Libro de la Montería" (Book of the Hunt), a 14th-century manuscript detailing hunting expeditions and activities of the Spanish nobility. This text mentions an individual named Pedro Alcayaga, who was likely a member of the royal hunting party or a landowner in the area.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the name appears to have spread throughout Spain, with several notable individuals bearing the surname. One such person was Juan de Alcayaga, a prominent Spanish explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century.

Another significant figure was Rodrigo de Alcayaga, a 16th-century Spanish clergyman who served as the Bishop of Guadix from 1555 to 1564. His tenure coincided with the aftermath of the Moorish revolt in the region, and he played a role in the resettlement efforts and religious conversion of the local population.

In the 17th century, the name Alcayaga appeared in various Spanish colonial records, indicating that individuals with this surname had participated in the exploration and settlement of the Americas. One notable example is Hernando de Alcayaga, a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Pedro de Valdivia in the conquest of Chile in the mid-16th century.

As the centuries passed, the Alcayaga surname continued to be present in Spain and its former colonies. In the 19th century, a notable bearer of the name was Manuel Alcayaga y Valenzuela, a Chilean politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs during the early years of the Republic of Chile.

While the surname Alcayaga is not as common as some other Spanish surnames, it has left its mark on history through the contributions of individuals in various fields, including exploration, religion, politics, and diplomacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alcayaga

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

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 Alcayaga 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.

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

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

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