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

Badilla, 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 Badilla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Badilla in America

Badilla is the 17072nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Badilla surname appeared 1,663 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 Badilla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Badilla 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 Badilla

The surname Badilla has its origins in Spain, with the earliest records dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "badil," which means "poker" or "iron rod." This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who worked as blacksmiths or in metal-related trades.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Badilla name appeared in various historical documents and records across Spanish regions, particularly in Andalusia and Castile. One notable early reference is found in the chronicles of the Reconquista, where a knight named Juan Badilla is mentioned for his bravery in the battles against the Moors.

As the Spanish Empire expanded in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Badilla surname spread to the Americas through colonial settlements and expeditions. In the early 1500s, Pedro Badilla, a Spanish explorer, was among the first Europeans to establish a settlement in what is now Costa Rica, leading to the founding of the city of Cartago.

Another prominent figure bearing the Badilla name was Diego Badilla, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés in the early 1500s. His exploits are documented in various historical accounts of the time.

In the 18th century, a prominent member of the Badilla family was José Badilla y Valverde, a respected lawyer and politician from Guatemala who played a significant role in the region's independence movement against Spanish rule.

During the 19th century, the Badilla surname gained recognition in the literary world with the renowned Costa Rican poet and writer, Manuel Badilla Solís (1842-1908). His works, including "Poesías" and "Romances y Cantares," are considered influential in the development of Costa Rican literature.

Throughout history, the Badilla name has been associated with various locations, including the Spanish town of Badilla in the province of Cáceres, as well as several villages and municipalities in Costa Rica, such as Badilla de Cartago and Badilla de Alajuela.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Badilla

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

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

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

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