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

Betance, 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 Betance surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Betance in America

Betance is the 79598th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Betance surname appeared 239 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 Betance.

We can also compare 2010 data for Betance 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 Betance

The surname Betance is of Spanish origin, with its roots tracing back to the Iberian Peninsula during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish town of Betanzos, located in the region of Galicia. The town's name is thought to have its origins in the Latin word "Vettones," referring to an ancient Celtic tribe that inhabited the area.

During the 11th and 12th centuries, as the Reconquista progressed and the Christian kingdoms of the north gradually reclaimed territory from the Moors, many families adopted surnames based on their places of origin or residence. The Betance surname likely emerged during this time, as people from Betanzos or the surrounding areas began using the name as a means of identification.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Betance surname can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrias, a 14th-century manuscript that documented the noble families and landholdings in the Kingdom of Castile. The document mentions a Don Pedro Betance, a nobleman who held lands in the region of Galicia during the reign of King Alfonso XI (1312-1350).

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Betance surname. One such figure was Juan Betance, a 16th-century Spanish navigator and explorer who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his famous circumnavigation of the globe. Betance played a crucial role in the expedition, serving as the chief pilot after Magellan's death in 1521.

Another prominent individual was Ramón Betances (1827-1898), a Puerto Rican physician, writer, and revolutionary who played a pivotal role in the island's struggle for independence from Spain. He was a key figure in the Grito de Lares, a major uprising against Spanish rule in 1868, and is considered one of the founding fathers of the Puerto Rican nation.

In the realm of literature, María Luisa Betances (1905-1992) was a renowned Puerto Rican poet and essayist. Her works, which often explored themes of national identity and the experiences of women, earned her numerous accolades and recognition as one of the most influential voices in Puerto Rican literature.

The Betance surname has also been associated with notable figures in the arts and entertainment industry. One example is Joaquín Betances (1847-1912), a Cuban musician and composer who is considered a pioneer of the Cuban danzón genre and contributed significantly to the development of Cuban popular music.

While the Betance surname originated in Spain and has a rich history in the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. Today, individuals with this surname can be found in various regions, each contributing to the diverse tapestry of global cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Betance

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

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

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

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