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

Arciaga, 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 Arciaga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arciaga in America

Arciaga is the 53419th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arciaga surname appeared 387 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 Arciaga.

We can also compare 2010 data for Arciaga 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 Arciaga

The surname Arciaga has its origins in the Basque Country, a region spanning parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. It is believed to have emerged sometime around the 12th or 13th century, with roots tracing back to the Basque language.

One theory suggests that Arciaga is derived from the Basque words "arci" (bear) and "aga" (place or region), potentially referring to an area known for bear habitats or hunting grounds. However, the precise etymology remains uncertain due to the complex nature of Basque linguistic roots.

While early documented references are scarce, the name appears to have been present in parts of the Basque Country during the medieval period. Records from the 15th century mention individuals bearing the surname Arciaga, often associated with small villages or towns in the region.

One of the earliest known mentions of the name Arciaga can be found in a legal document from the town of Lekeitio, dated 1487. This document details a dispute over property rights involving a certain Juan de Arciaga, providing a glimpse into the surname's local presence at the time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Arciaga was Martín de Arciaga, a merchant and shipowner from the coastal town of Mutriku. He played a role in the thriving maritime trade of the region, with records indicating his involvement in various commercial ventures between 1520 and 1565.

During the 17th century, the Arciaga surname gained some prominence in the religious sphere. Fray Pedro de Arciaga, born in 1612 in the village of Azpeitia, was a Franciscan friar renowned for his scholarly works on theology and philosophy. He served as a professor at the prestigious University of Salamanca and authored several influential treatises.

In the 18th century, the name Arciaga was associated with the artistic community in the Basque Country. Juan Bautista de Arciaga, born in 1725 in Bilbao, was a celebrated painter and sculptor who contributed to the region's cultural landscape during the Baroque and Rococo periods.

Another notable figure from this era was María Arciaga y Urrutia, born in 1748 in San Sebastián. She was a prominent educator and advocate for women's education, establishing one of the first schools for girls in the region and campaigning for greater access to learning opportunities for females.

As the centuries progressed, the Arciaga surname continued to be represented across various fields, with individuals bearing the name making contributions in areas such as politics, literature, and academia, further solidifying its place in the cultural tapestry of the Basque Country and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arciaga

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

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

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

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