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

Balmaseda, 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 Balmaseda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Balmaseda in America

Balmaseda is the 82613th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Balmaseda surname appeared 228 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 Balmaseda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Balmaseda 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 Balmaseda

The surname BALMASEDA is of Spanish origin, originating from the northern regions of Spain during the medieval period. The name is believed to have derived from the place name "Balmaseda," a municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country.

The etymology of the name "Balmaseda" can be traced back to the Basque language, where it is thought to have originated from the words "balma" meaning "cave" or "shelter," and "seda" meaning "place." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a settlement or area known for its caves or sheltered locations.

One of the earliest documented references to the name BALMASEDA can be found in the "Becerro Antiguo de Balmaseda," an ancient manuscript dating back to the 13th century. This document contains records of the privileges and rights granted to the town of Balmaseda by the King of Castile, Alfonso VIII, in the year 1199.

In the 14th century, a prominent figure bearing the name BALMASEDA was Juan de Balmaseda, a Spanish military commander who fought alongside King Alfonso XI during the Reconquista, the Christian conquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. Juan de Balmaseda played a crucial role in several battles, including the famous Battle of Río Salado in 1340.

Another notable individual with the surname BALMASEDA was Pedro de Balmaseda, a Spanish explorer and conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century. Pedro de Balmaseda was one of the first Europeans to set foot in the Valley of Mexico and witness the grandeur of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook Joaquín José de Balmaseda y Quintana (1718-1786), a Spanish playwright and poet who was renowned for his comedic works and satires. His plays, such as "El Petimetre" and "La Mogigata," were widely performed and celebrated in 18th-century Spain.

The name BALMASEDA also gained prominence in the field of architecture with Joaquín de Balmaseda y González (1844-1926), a Spanish architect who designed several notable buildings in Madrid, including the Palacio de Comunicaciones, which now houses the City Hall of Madrid.

Throughout history, the surname BALMASEDA has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including military leaders, explorers, writers, and architects, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and contributions of those bearing this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Balmaseda

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

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

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

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