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

Amarillo, 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 Amarillo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Amarillo in America

Amarillo is the 95115th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Amarillo surname appeared 192 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 Amarillo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Amarillo 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 Amarillo

The surname Amarillo originates from Spain, with roots dating back to the 15th century or earlier. It is believed to have evolved from the Spanish word "amarillo," meaning "yellow" or "golden-colored." This name likely arose as a descriptive nickname for someone with yellow or golden hair or complexion.

Amarillo was initially concentrated in certain regions of Spain, particularly in the southern areas of Andalusia and Extremadura, where the name has been documented in historical records from the late medieval period. The earliest known spelling variations include Amarillo, Amariglio, and Amariello.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Amarillo can be found in the archives of the town of Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia, where a certain Juan Amarillo is mentioned in a municipal document from the year 1487. This suggests that the name was already established in the area by the late 15th century.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, as Spanish exploration and colonization expanded to the Americas, some individuals bearing the surname Amarillo likely emigrated to the New World. For instance, historical records show that a man named Diego Amarillo was among the early Spanish settlers in the region of present-day Mexico in the 1540s.

Over the centuries, notable individuals with the surname Amarillo have left their mark in various fields. One such figure was Francisco Amarillo (1670-1745), a renowned painter from Seville known for his religious works and portraits. Another was Juana Amarillo (1782-1852), a Spanish playwright and poet who gained recognition for her comedic works during the Romantic period.

In the 19th century, Manuel Amarillo (1820-1892) was a distinguished lawyer and politician from Cádiz who served as a member of the Spanish Parliament. Meanwhile, in the realm of literature, Emilio Amarillo (1865-1928) was a celebrated novelist and essayist from Granada whose works explored themes of social commentary and regional culture.

Moving into the 20th century, one remarkable individual with the surname Amarillo was María Amarillo (1912-1998), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in Spain. She dedicated her life to promoting equal educational opportunities and empowering women through her teaching and activism.

While the surname Amarillo is not among the most common in Spain today, it has persisted throughout the centuries, carrying a rich history and cultural significance rooted in its distinctive origins and the remarkable individuals who have borne this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Amarillo

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

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

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

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