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

Arellano, 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 Arellano surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arellano in America

Arellano is the 25115th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arellano surname appeared 988 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 Arellano.

We can also compare 2010 data for Arellano 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 Arellano

The surname Arellano originated in Spain, specifically in the northern regions of Cantabria and Asturias, during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "arellano," which refers to a type of sandy or gravelly soil, suggesting that the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a place with such terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arellano can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrías, a medieval Spanish manuscript dating back to the 14th century. This document listed various noble families and their properties, indicating that the Arellano family held significant influence and land ownership in the northern regions of Spain during that time.

The Arellano name is also associated with the town of Arellano, located in the province of Navarra, which may have served as the origin of the surname for some bearers. This town's name is derived from the Basque words "ari" (sand) and "leku" (place), further reinforcing the connection between the surname and sandy or gravelly terrain.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Arellano. One of the earliest was Juan Ramírez de Arellano (c. 1290-1350), a Spanish nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the Reconquista, the campaigns to reclaim Iberian territories from Moorish rule.

Another prominent figure was Alonso de Arellano y Aguilar (1480-1547), a Spanish conquistador who participated in the Spanish conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés. He served as a captain and later became the encomendero (landowner) of several territories in New Spain (present-day Mexico).

In the realm of literature, Juan José Arellano (1888-1976) was a renowned Colombian poet and essayist known for his contributions to the modernist movement in Latin American literature. His works explored themes of nature, love, and the human condition.

Gabriela Arellano (1912-1996) was a Mexican artist and painter, renowned for her vibrant depictions of Mexican culture and landscapes. Her works are celebrated for their bold use of color and their celebration of indigenous themes.

More recently, Antonio Arellano (1950-2022) was a Mexican businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to education and social welfare initiatives in his home country.

These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals bearing the surname Arellano throughout history, highlighting its rich legacy and prominence across various fields and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arellano

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

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

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

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