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

Avilla, 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 Avilla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Avilla in America

Avilla is the 18306th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Avilla surname appeared 1,515 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Avilla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Avilla 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 Avilla

The surname Avilla has its origins in Spain, tracing back to the medieval period, around the 11th to 13th centuries. It is believed to have originated from the Spanish city of Avila, which was an important center during the Reconquista period. The name Avila itself is derived from the Latin word "abilla," meaning "town of the flat lands."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Avilla can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrías, a manuscript dating back to the 14th century that documented noble families and their landholdings. The document mentions several individuals with the surname Avilla, suggesting that it was already well-established by that time.

During the 15th century, the surname Avilla gained prominence with the rise of Gil González de Avila, a Spanish soldier and historian who served under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Born around 1450, he wrote several chronicles documenting the conquests and events of the Spanish monarchy.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Avilla was Pedro de Avilla, a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in the early 16th century. He played a significant role in the conquest of the Aztec Empire and was later granted encomiendas (land grants) in recognition of his service.

In the 17th century, the surname Avilla was further elevated by Juan de Avilla, a Spanish mystic and preacher born in Almodovar del Campo in 1499. He was renowned for his spiritual writings and teachings, and his works greatly influenced the Catholic Reformation movement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Avilla in the New World can be traced back to Juan de Avilla, a Spanish explorer who accompanied Juan Ponce de León on his voyages to Florida in the early 16th century. He later settled in Puerto Rico, where he became a prominent landowner and contributed to the island's early colonization efforts.

While the surname Avilla has its roots in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to Spanish exploration and colonization. Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Avila, Abila, and Avilés, reflecting regional linguistic differences and adaptations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Avilla

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

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

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

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