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

Anza, 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 Anza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Anza in America

Anza is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Anza surname appeared 104 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 Anza.

The history of the last name Anza

The surname Anza originated in Italy, specifically in the northern regions of Piedmont and Lombardy. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "anza," which means "old age" or "antiquity." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone who was elderly or had an ancient lineage.

The earliest known record of the Anza name dates back to the 13th century, where it appeared in historical documents from the city of Milan. During this period, surnames were becoming more widespread in Europe, and many families adopted names based on physical characteristics, occupations, or geographic locations.

In the 14th century, the Anza family was documented as residing in the town of Novara, located in the Piedmont region of Italy. This area was known for its fertile land and strategic location along important trade routes, which may have contributed to the family's prosperity and influence.

One notable figure in the history of the Anza name was Giovanni Battista Anza, born in 1734 in the village of Molinos de Aragón, Spain. He was a military officer and explorer who led expeditions into present-day Arizona and California, establishing settlements and paving the way for Spanish colonization in the region.

Another prominent individual was Juan Bautista de Anza, born in 1736 in Culiacán, Mexico. He was the son of Juan Bautista de Anza, a Spanish military officer, and followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a renowned explorer and military leader. He is most famous for leading an overland expedition from Sonora, Mexico, to the San Francisco Bay area in 1775-1776, establishing a route that would later become known as the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.

In the 16th century, the Anza name appeared in records from the town of Vercelli, located in the Piedmont region of Italy. During this time, the family was involved in various trades and professions, including agriculture, textile production, and artisanal crafts.

In the 18th century, the Anza family had members who were involved in the Italian Risorgimento, a movement that aimed to unify the various states of the Italian peninsula into a single nation. One notable figure from this period was Giuseppe Anza, born in 1790 in Turin, who served as a military officer and supported the cause of Italian unification.

Throughout history, the Anza name has been associated with various professions, including military service, exploration, politics, and business. While the name originated in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including Spain, Mexico, and the United States, where descendants of the original Anza families continue to carry on the name and its legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Anza

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

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

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

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