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

Balanza, 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 Balanza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Balanza in America

Balanza is the 85049th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Balanza surname appeared 220 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 Balanza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Balanza 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 Balanza

The surname Balanza is of Spanish origin, deriving from the word "balanza," which means "balance" or "scales" in English. This name likely originated in the medieval period, possibly referring to an occupation related to weighing or measuring goods.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Balanza can be found in the historical documents of Castile, a region in central Spain, dating back to the 15th century. It is believed that the name may have initially been associated with individuals involved in trade or commerce, where accurate measurement was crucial.

During the 16th century, the Balanza surname appeared in various records and manuscripts across Spain. One notable example is the mention of Juan Balanza, a merchant from Seville, who is recorded in a ledger from 1567 detailing his trade transactions with neighboring regions.

As the Spanish Empire expanded its influence globally, the Balanza name spread to different parts of the world, particularly to the Americas. In the 17th century, Diego Balanza, born in 1624, was among the early Spanish settlers in Mexico, establishing roots in the region.

In the 18th century, the Balanza family gained prominence in Colombia, with Pedro Balanza (1711-1783) being a respected landowner and influential figure in the city of Cartagena. His descendants continued to play significant roles in the region's political and economic affairs.

Another notable individual with the Balanza surname was María Balanza (1792-1868), a Spanish writer and poet from Andalusia, who gained recognition for her literary works and contributions to the Romantic movement in Spain.

During the 19th century, the Balanza name also appeared in various regions of Latin America, such as Argentina and Chile, reflecting the migration patterns of Spanish settlers and their descendants.

One of the most prominent figures with the Balanza surname was José Balanza (1869-1935), a renowned Peruvian painter and sculptor who played a significant role in the development of the country's artistic landscape.

In summary, the surname Balanza has a rich history rooted in the Spanish language and culture, with its origins potentially linked to occupations related to weighing and measuring. Throughout the centuries, individuals bearing this surname have left their mark in various fields, from commerce and literature to the arts and politics, across Spain, Latin America, and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Balanza

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

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

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

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