2000
#8,872
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,394
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.26
Rare Last name
Astorga
A habitational surname derived from the city of Astorga in northwestern Spain, likely indicating ancestral origins in that region.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,010 Americans carry the last name Astorga. That puts it at #7,355 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.46 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 68,414 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Astorga surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
5.0K
1 in 68,414
Census rank
#7,355
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,369 bearers of the surname Astorga in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.46 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7355th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Astorga, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.6%. The next largest groups are White (5.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Astorga
The surname Astorga originates from Spain and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Spanish town of Astorga, located in the province of León. The town's name is thought to have originated from the Celtic word "astyr," meaning "a rocky place."
The name Astorga first appeared in historical records in the 13th century, with references to individuals bearing this surname in the archives of the Kingdom of León. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Pedro de Astorga, a nobleman who lived in the late 12th century and was known for his military exploits during the Reconquista.
In the 14th century, the Astorga family gained prominence in the region, with several members holding influential positions in the clergy and local government. One notable figure was Álvaro de Astorga, a Franciscan friar who served as the Bishop of Avila from 1389 to 1401.
During the 15th century, the Astorga surname spread beyond the confines of León, with members of the family settling in other parts of Spain, including Castile and Andalusia. Juan de Astorga, born in 1452, was a renowned architect who contributed to the construction of several notable buildings, including the Cathedral of Seville.
In the 16th century, the Astorga family produced several notable figures, including Diego de Astorga, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of the Inca Empire alongside Francisco Pizarro. Another prominent individual was Pedro de Astorga y Cervantes, a Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of Granada from 1569 to 1594.
As the Spanish Empire expanded, the Astorga surname also spread to the Americas and other parts of the world. One notable figure from this period was Antonio de Astorga, a Spanish explorer who led expeditions to the Caribbean and Central America in the late 16th century.
Throughout the centuries, the Astorga surname has been associated with various occupations, including military service, religious leadership, architecture, and exploration. While the name originated in a specific region of Spain, it has since become widespread and can be found in many parts of the world with Spanish cultural influence.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Astorga
Among Census respondents with the surname Astorga, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.6%. The next largest groups are White (5.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Astorga bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Astorga surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino90.6% · 3,959
- White5.0% · 219
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.2% · 138
- Two or more races0.6% · 25
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 16
- Black or African American0.3% · 12
Timeline
Historical Census data for Astorga
Astorga appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#7,433
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,481
+1,087 bearers (+32.0%)
Per 100,000 1.52
Rank movement Up 1,439 places
2020
#7,355
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,369
-112 bearers (-2.5%)
Per 100,000 1.46
Rank movement Up 78 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #8,872 | 3,394 | 1.26 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #7,433 | 4,481 | 1.52 | +1,087 bearers (+32.0%) | Up 1,439 places |
| 2020 | #7,355 | 4,369 | 1.46 | -112 bearers (-2.5%) | Up 78 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Astorga surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,433 | #7,355 | 1.0% |
| Count | 4,481 | 4,369 | -2.5% |
| Per 100K | 1.52 | 1.46 | -3.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Astorga bearers went from 4,481 to 4,369 (-2.5% change). The surname moved up 78 positions in the national ranking, going from #7,433 to #7,355.
FAQ
Astorga surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Astorga?
Name Census estimates that about 5,010 living Americans carry the surname Astorga. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 68,414 residents.
How common is Astorga?
Astorga ranks #7,355 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.46 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 4,369 people with the surname Astorga. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (5,010), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.46 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.46 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Astorga.
Has Astorga become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Astorga went from 4,481 recorded bearers to 4,369. That is a decrease of 112 (-2.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #7,433 to #7,355.
What does the Census say about the background of Astorga?
Among Census respondents with the surname Astorga, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.6%. The next largest groups are White (5.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Astorga in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.6% (3,959 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Astorga appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (90.6%), White (5.0%), Asian/Pacific Islander (3.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Astorga (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Astorga mean?
A habitational surname derived from the city of Astorga in northwestern Spain, likely indicating ancestral origins in that region. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Astorga (1.46 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Astorga?
See how many people have the surname Astorga on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.