Caracas last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Caracas

A surname of Spanish origin referring to the capital city of Venezuela.

Caracas, 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 Caracas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Caracas in America

Caracas is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Caracas surname appeared 122 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 Caracas.

The history of the last name Caracas

The surname Caracas originates from Venezuela and dates back to the 16th century. It is derived from the indigenous Carib word "caracas," which means "watercourse." The name is closely associated with the city of Caracas, the capital and largest city of Venezuela, which was founded in 1567.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Caracas can be found in colonial Spanish documents and records from the 16th and 17th centuries. It is believed that the name was initially given to individuals who lived near or were associated with the area where the city of Caracas was established.

One notable historical figure with the surname Caracas was Francisco Fajardo y Caracas (1548-1614), a Spanish conquistador and explorer who played a significant role in the colonization of Venezuela. He was also involved in the founding of the city of Caracas.

Another prominent individual with this surname was José María Caracas (1786-1868), a Venezuelan military officer and politician who fought in the Venezuelan War of Independence against Spanish rule. He served as the President of Venezuela from 1835 to 1839.

In the 18th century, the surname Caracas appeared in various records and manuscripts related to the colonial administration and governance of the region. For instance, Juan de Caracas (1702-1778) was a Spanish colonial official who served as the governor of the Province of Venezuela from 1762 to 1768.

The surname Caracas has also been associated with several notable writers and artists. For example, Andrés Caracas Álvarez (1891-1971) was a Venezuelan writer, poet, and journalist who was known for his contributions to the literary and cultural scene of his country.

Additionally, María Antonia Caracas (1803-1882) was a Venezuelan painter and one of the earliest female artists in Latin America to achieve significant recognition. Her works are considered important examples of early Venezuelan art and have been exhibited in various museums and galleries.

While the surname Caracas is primarily found in Venezuela, it has also spread to other parts of Latin America and the world due to migration and historical connections. However, its origins and strong ties to the city of Caracas make it a distinctly Venezuelan surname with a rich cultural and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Caracas

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

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 Caracas was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 15.57% 19
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 10.66% 13
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 71.31% 87

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

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

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"Caracas last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on April 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/caracas-surname-popularity/.

"Caracas last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/caracas-surname-popularity/. Accessed 2 April, 2025

Caracas last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/caracas-surname-popularity/.

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