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

Arcalas, 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 Arcalas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arcalas in America

Arcalas is the 141140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arcalas surname appeared 118 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 Arcalas.

The history of the last name Arcalas

The surname Arcalas originated in Spain during the medieval period, with roots that can be traced back to the Catalan region. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "arcus," meaning "arch" or "bow," combined with the suffix "-alas," which is a common ending in Catalan surnames. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near an arched structure or worked as an archer or bowmaker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Arcalas surname can be found in the "Llibre del Repartiment," a 13th-century document that recorded the distribution of lands and properties in the Kingdom of Valencia after the Christian conquest. This document mentions several individuals with the name Arcalas, indicating that the surname was already established in the region at that time.

In the 14th century, the Arcalas family played a prominent role in the city of Barcelona, with several members serving as merchants, artisans, and civic leaders. One notable figure was Joan Arcalas, a successful textile merchant who served as a councilman in the city's government during the 1360s.

As the Arcalas family grew and spread throughout Spain, variations in the spelling of the name emerged, including Arcalás, Arcalàs, and Arcalàz. These variations often reflected regional linguistic differences or were adapted to suit local pronunciation and spelling conventions.

During the 16th century, the Arcalas surname gained international recognition with the exploits of Pedro Arcalas, a Spanish navigator and explorer who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his famous circumnavigation voyage. Pedro Arcalas was born in Seville in 1490 and served as a pilot on Magellan's fleet, playing a crucial role in the successful navigation of the treacherous Strait of Magellan.

Another notable figure from this time period was Catalina Arcalas, a renowned artist from Valencia who specialized in religious paintings and murals. Her works adorned numerous churches and cathedrals throughout Spain, and she was widely celebrated for her mastery of color and composition. Catalina Arcalas lived from 1525 to 1598.

In the 17th century, the Arcalas family continued to make notable contributions in various fields. Tomás Arcalas (1610-1682) was a respected theologian and philosopher who taught at the University of Salamanca, while his contemporary, Juana Arcalas (1618-1694), was a pioneering female playwright and poet whose works explored themes of love, identity, and societal norms.

As the centuries passed, the Arcalas surname spread beyond Spain, with descendants settling in various parts of Europe, the Americas, and other regions. While the name may have evolved or adapted to different cultural contexts, its Spanish origins and historical significance remain firmly rooted in the annals of Iberian history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arcalas

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

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

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

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