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

Cañizal, 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 Cañizal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cañizal in America

Cañizal is the 118185th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cañizal surname appeared 147 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 Cañizal.

The history of the last name Cañizal

The surname Canizal is believed to have originated in Spain, specifically in the region of Castile. It likely dates back to the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Spanish word "cañizal," which means "reed bed" or "cane field."

This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived near or worked in areas where reeds or canes grew abundantly. It could also have been a topographic name, referring to a specific location characterized by the presence of reed beds or cane fields.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Canizal surname can be found in the "Tumbo de Castañeda," a cartulary (a medieval manuscript collection of charters and deeds) from the 13th century. This document contains references to individuals bearing the Canizal surname, indicating its presence in the region during that time period.

In the 14th century, there are records of a Rodrigo Canizal, who served as a royal official in the court of King Alfonso XI of Castile (1311-1350). This suggests that the Canizal family had gained some prominence and standing within the Spanish nobility by that point.

Another notable individual with the Canizal surname was Juan Canizal, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New World in 1493. Canizal played a role in the exploration and settlement of the Caribbean islands during the early years of Spanish colonization.

During the 16th century, the name Canizal appears in various historical documents, including records of land grants and property transactions in Spain. One such example is Pedro Canizal, who received a land grant in the region of Seville in the early 1500s.

In the 17th century, a notable figure was Diego Canizal, a Spanish military officer who served in the Spanish Netherlands during the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic. He was recognized for his bravery and leadership in several battles.

As the Spanish Empire expanded its reach, the Canizal surname also spread to various parts of the Americas, particularly in regions that were colonized by Spain, such as Mexico, Peru, and parts of the Caribbean. Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Canisal, Canizales, and Canizarez, among others.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cañizal

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

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 Cañizal 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.

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

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

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