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

Apo, 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 Apo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Apo in America

Apo is the 45959th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Apo surname appeared 464 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 Apo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Apo 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 Apo

The surname Apo is of Spanish origin, with roots tracing back to the 15th century. It is believed to have originated from the Galician region of northwestern Spain, where it was likely derived from a nickname or a place name.

One theory suggests that Apo is a shortened form of the Spanish word "apodo," which means nickname or sobriquet. This indicates that the name may have been initially given to an individual based on a distinctive physical characteristic or personality trait.

Another possibility is that Apo stems from a place name, as many Spanish surnames were derived from the names of villages, towns, or geographical features. In this case, Apo could be linked to a specific location within the Galician region, though the exact origin remains uncertain.

In the historical records of the Galician region, the earliest known mention of the surname Apo dates back to the late 15th century. One notable bearer of the name was Juan Apo, a prominent merchant who lived in the city of Santiago de Compostela in the late 1400s. His name appears in several trade documents and contracts from that period.

During the 16th century, the surname Apo spread beyond Galicia as Spanish exploration and colonization efforts expanded across the Americas. One prominent individual was Pedro Apo, a Spanish soldier and explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in the 1520s. Pedro Apo played a significant role in the conquest of Mexico and was later granted lands in the region.

In the 17th century, the Apo surname gained recognition in the realm of literature. Miguel Apo, a Spanish poet and playwright born in 1620, was celebrated for his works, which often drew inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of Galicia. His plays and poems were widely performed and published during his lifetime.

As the centuries progressed, the Apo surname continued to spread across Spain and its colonies. In the 19th century, Manuel Apo, a Spanish military officer, gained prominence for his role in the Carlist Wars, a series of civil conflicts that erupted over the succession to the Spanish throne.

It is worth noting that variations in spelling, such as Appo and Appa, have also been recorded throughout history, reflecting regional differences and cultural influences.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Apo

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

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

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

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