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

Arza, 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 Arza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arza in America

Arza is the 108199th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arza surname appeared 164 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 Arza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Arza 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 Arza

The surname Arza originates from the Basque region of northern Spain and southern France, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Basque word "aritz," meaning oak tree, suggesting that the name may have been adopted by individuals who lived near or had an association with oak forests or groves.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arza can be found in the Codex Calixtinus, a 12th-century manuscript from the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. This document mentions a person named Arza de Nájera, indicating the name's presence in the region during that time.

In the 13th century, records from the Kingdom of Navarre mention a nobleman named García Arza, who held lands and titles in the area. This suggests that the name had gained prominence and was associated with the local nobility.

During the 15th century, a notable figure named Juan de Arza was a renowned architect and stonemason who worked on several important projects, including the construction of the cathedral in Burgos. His contributions to the architectural heritage of the region further cemented the name's legacy.

Another prominent individual with the surname Arza was Gaspar de Arza y Cervantes, a 16th-century Spanish nobleman and military commander. He served in the Spanish army during the Italian Wars and is mentioned in chronicles of the time for his bravery and leadership.

In the 18th century, Miguel de Arza was a respected scholar and historian from the Basque region. His works focused on the history and culture of the Basque people, providing valuable insights into the region's past.

The surname Arza has also been associated with various place names throughout the Basque region, such as Arza, a village in the municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz, and Arzamendi, a small town in the province of Gipuzkoa. These place names further reinforce the name's deep-rooted connection to the area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arza

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

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

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

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