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

Ayarza, 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 Ayarza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ayarza in America

Ayarza is the 126018th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ayarza surname appeared 136 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 Ayarza.

The history of the last name Ayarza

The surname Ayarza is of Spanish origin, with roots tracing back to the Basque region of northern Spain and southwestern France. The name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, likely between the 11th and 13th centuries.

Ayarza is thought to be derived from the Basque word "aiar," which means "rock" or "cliff," combined with the suffix "-za," indicating a place or location. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to individuals who lived near or were associated with a rocky or cliffside area.

One of the earliest documented references to the Ayarza surname can be found in the archives of the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla, located in La Rioja, Spain. This monastery houses records dating back to the 11th century, where variations of the name, such as "Aiarza" and "Aiarça," are mentioned.

In the 14th century, the name Ayarza appeared in several historic documents from the Kingdom of Navarre, a region that encompassed parts of modern-day Spain and France. One notable figure was Juan Ayarza, a knight who served under King Charles III of Navarre in the late 14th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Ayarza surname gained prominence in various parts of Spain, particularly in the Basque Country and the neighboring regions of Navarre and La Rioja. Juan Ayarza de Ribera (1535-1604) was a renowned Spanish architect and sculptor who contributed to several notable works, including the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla.

Another prominent individual was Pedro Ayarza y Rojas (1570-1642), a Spanish military officer and governor of the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period. He played a significant role in the defense of Manila against Dutch and Portuguese forces in the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Ayarza surname was associated with several notable figures in Spain, including Miguel Ayarza (1768-1842), a Spanish military officer and politician who served as a member of the Cortes Generales, the Spanish parliament.

As the Spanish Empire expanded, the Ayarza surname also spread to various parts of the Americas, particularly in regions with strong Spanish colonial influence, such as Mexico, Peru, and Argentina.

Overall, the surname Ayarza has a rich history rooted in the Basque region of Spain and has been carried by individuals of notable stature throughout the centuries, from medieval knights and architects to military officers and politicians.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ayarza

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

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

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

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