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

Ballesteros, 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 Ballesteros surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ballesteros in America

Ballesteros is the 3481st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ballesteros surname appeared 10,261 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Ballesteros.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ballesteros 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 Ballesteros

The surname Ballesteros has its origins in Spain, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "ballestero," which refers to a crossbowman or an archer. This occupation-based surname suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely involved in the military or hunting professions, where expertise in archery or crossbow use was a valuable skill.

The Ballesteros name can be traced back to various regions within Spain, particularly in areas where these skilled archers were employed or stationed. Some early records indicate that the name was prevalent in regions such as Castile, Aragon, and Andalusia, where crossbowmen played a significant role in military campaigns and hunting activities.

Historical references to the Ballesteros surname can be found in various medieval documents and records. One notable example is the Libro de la Montería, a hunting treatise written in the 14th century during the reign of King Alfonso XI of Castile, which mentions several individuals with the surname Ballesteros involved in royal hunts and falconry expeditions.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the Ballesteros surname was Rodrigo Ballesteros, a renowned crossbowman who served under King Alfonso X of Castile (1252-1284) and participated in the Reconquista, the centuries-long struggle to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Moorish rule.

Another prominent figure was Juan Ballesteros, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. Ballesteros played a crucial role in the exploration and mapping of the Caribbean islands during this expedition.

In the 16th century, Hernán Ballesteros was a renowned Spanish architect who designed and constructed several churches and monastic buildings in Seville and other parts of Andalusia, leaving a lasting architectural legacy.

During the Spanish Golden Age, the Ballesteros name was also associated with the arts. Miguel Ballesteros (1570-1638) was a celebrated Spanish painter known for his religious and mythological works, many of which can be found in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.

In the 19th century, Antonio Ballesteros y Beretta (1835-1917) was a prominent Spanish historian and statesman who served as the Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts, contributing significantly to the preservation of Spain's cultural heritage.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Ballesteros, reflecting the name's deep roots in Spanish culture and its association with various professions and achievements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ballesteros

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

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

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

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