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

Arzabala, 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 Arzabala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arzabala in America

Arzabala is the 114424th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arzabala surname appeared 153 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 Arzabala.

The history of the last name Arzabala

The surname "ARZABALA" is believed to have originated in the Basque region of northern Spain and southwestern France. It likely emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from a combination of the Basque words "arz" (meaning "bear") and "bala" (meaning "arrow" or "projectile"), possibly referring to a skilled hunter or warrior.

One of the earliest known references to the name Arzabala can be found in a medieval Basque legal document from the year 1387, which mentions a landowner named Juan de Arzabala. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

In the 15th century, a noble family bearing the name Arzabala is recorded as having owned a small estate near the town of Hernani in the province of Gipuzkoa, in what is now the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain. The family's coat of arms featured a bear and an arrow, further indicating the connection between the name and its presumed origins.

During the 16th century, a notable individual named Pedro Arzabala (1520-1589) was a prominent merchant and ship owner based in the coastal city of San Sebastián. He was involved in the lucrative trade routes between Spain and the Americas, and his wealth and influence helped establish the Arzabala name as one of prominence in the region.

In the 17th century, a Basque soldier named Ignacio Arzabala (1634-1701) served with distinction in the Spanish army during the War of the Spanish Succession. He was awarded a knighthood for his bravery on the battlefield, and his exploits were chronicled in contemporary military records.

Another notable figure was María Arzabala (1755-1832), a respected scholar and educator from the town of Vitoria-Gasteiz. She was one of the first women in the Basque Country to receive a formal education, and she went on to establish a highly regarded school for young women, helping to pave the way for greater educational opportunities for females in the region.

While the surname Arzabala is relatively uncommon outside of the Basque regions of Spain and France, it has been carried by individuals of historical significance throughout the centuries, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Basque people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arzabala

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

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

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

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