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

Bonillo, 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 Bonillo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bonillo in America

Bonillo is the 104156th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bonillo surname appeared 172 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 Bonillo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bonillo 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 Bonillo

The surname Bonillo has its roots in Spain, particularly in the region of Andalusia, where it first emerged during the medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Spanish word "boniello," which means "beautiful" or "handsome," suggesting that the name may have been initially bestowed on someone with a pleasing appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Bonillo surname can be found in the "Repartimiento de Sevilla," a 13th-century document that recorded the distribution of properties and lands among the Christian conquerors of Seville after the city was taken from the Moors in 1248. This document mentions a certain Fernan Bonillo, who was granted lands in the region.

During the 15th century, the Bonillo family played a significant role in the Spanish conquest of the Canary Islands. Alonso Fernandez Bonillo, born around 1420, was a prominent figure in the conquest of Gran Canaria and was rewarded with lands and titles for his service to the Crown.

In the 16th century, the name Bonillo appeared in various historical records, including the "Archivo General de Indias," which documented the Spanish colonization of the Americas. One notable figure was Juan Bonillo, a Spanish explorer and navigator who participated in several expeditions to the New World in the early 1500s.

The 17th century saw the rise of a prominent Bonillo family in the city of Malaga, where they held influential positions in the local government and church. One notable member was Diego Bonillo y Mendoza, born in 1635, who served as the Bishop of Malaga from 1685 until his death in 1705.

In the 18th century, the Bonillo name gained prominence in the field of arts and literature. Manuel Bonillo, born in 1741 in Seville, was a celebrated painter and portraitist whose works adorned many churches and palaces throughout Spain.

As the Bonillo surname spread across Spain and its colonies, it also found its way to other parts of the world. In the 19th century, a notable figure was Antonio Bonillo, born in 1812 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, who was a respected lawyer and politician, serving as a member of the Argentine Congress during the turbulent years of the country's independence.

Throughout its history, the Bonillo surname has been associated with various professions, from military leaders and clergy members to artists and intellectuals, reflecting the diverse contributions of those who have carried this name across generations and continents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bonillo

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

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

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

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