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

Alcorta, 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 Alcorta surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alcorta in America

Alcorta is the 17911th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alcorta surname appeared 1,561 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Alcorta.

We can also compare 2010 data for Alcorta 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 Alcorta

The surname Alcorta has its origins in Spain, where it first emerged in the regions of Castile and Basque Country during the Middle Ages. The name is believed to be derived from the Spanish words "alco" and "corta," which collectively translate to "the short way" or "the shortcut." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person who lived near a shortcut or an alternative route.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Alcorta surname dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared in the Becerro de las Behetrías, an important medieval document that catalogued various noble families and their properties. The name was primarily concentrated in the northern regions of Spain, particularly in the provinces of Álava and Vizcaya.

In the 14th century, the Alcorta family gained prominence in the city of Vitoria, where they held influential positions and owned significant landholdings. Notable members from this period include Pedro de Alcorta (1310-1382), a respected magistrate and advisor to the King of Castile.

As the Spanish Empire expanded in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Alcorta name spread to other parts of Europe and the Americas. One of the most famous bearers of the surname was Diego de Alcorta (1550-1625), a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru and later became a prominent settler in the Viceroyalty of Peru.

In the 18th century, the Alcorta family maintained a strong presence in various regions of Spain, with notable individuals such as María Alcorta (1720-1795), a renowned poet and literary figure in Madrid. Additionally, Juan de Alcorta (1745-1812) was a prominent military officer who served in the Spanish army during the Peninsular War against Napoleon's forces.

The 19th century saw the Alcorta name spread further across the globe, with members of the family emigrating to countries like Argentina, Mexico, and the United States. One of the most notable figures from this period was Amancio Alcorta (1805-1868), an Argentine politician and landowner who played a significant role in the development of the city of La Plata.

Throughout history, the Alcorta surname has been associated with various professions, including law, literature, military service, and politics. Despite its relatively rare occurrence, the name has left an enduring legacy across multiple continents, reflecting the far-reaching impact of Spanish culture and exploration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alcorta

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

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

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

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