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

Billegas, 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 Billegas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Billegas in America

Billegas is the 80926th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Billegas surname appeared 234 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 Billegas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Billegas 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 Billegas

The surname Billegas has its roots in Spain, originating during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "billego," which was used to refer to individuals from the Basque region, known for their skill in cattle herding and farming.

The earliest known records of the Billegas surname can be traced back to the 13th century in the northern regions of Spain, particularly in the provinces of Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa. These areas were historically associated with the Basque culture and language, which may have influenced the formation of the surname.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Billegas name appears in a manuscript from the year 1287, which documents a land transaction involving a person named Juan de Billegas. This historical record provides insight into the presence of the surname in the region during that time period.

Interestingly, the name Billegas is also linked to the Basque place name "Bilbao," which was originally spelled as "Bilbau" or "Billbau." This connection suggests that the surname may have originated from individuals who hailed from or had ties to this prominent city in the Basque Country.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Billegas surname. One such figure was Pedro de Billegas, a renowned military commander who fought alongside King Alfonso VIII during the Reconquista in the late 12th century. Another notable bearer of the name was Beatriz de Billegas, a prominent landowner and patron of the arts in the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the Billegas family gained prominence in the city of Vitoria, where they established themselves as successful merchants and traders. During this period, Juan de Billegas (1523-1589) became a respected figure in the local community, serving as a councilman and contributing to the city's economic development.

Another influential member of the Billegas family was Tomás de Billegas (1687-1754), a renowned architect who played a significant role in the construction of several churches and monasteries in the Basque region. His contributions to the architectural heritage of the area have been widely recognized and celebrated.

Over the centuries, the Billegas surname has spread beyond its roots in the Basque Country, with descendants settling in various parts of Spain and eventually migrating to other countries, carrying their rich cultural heritage and family name with them.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Billegas

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

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

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

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