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

Cárcamo, 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 Cárcamo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cárcamo in America

Cárcamo is the 6516th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cárcamo surname appeared 5,205 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Cárcamo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cárcamo 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 Cárcamo

The surname Cárcamo is of Spanish origin and dates back to the medieval period in Spain. The earliest records indicate that it originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a sluice or channel used for irrigation purposes. The name is derived from the Spanish word "cárcamo," which translates to "sluice" or "watergate."

In the 13th century, the Cárcamo family can be traced to the region of Andalusia in southern Spain. Historical records from this period mention individuals bearing the name Cárcamo residing in cities like Seville and Córdoba. The name's connection to water management systems suggests that the early bearers of this surname may have been involved in agriculture or related occupations.

One of the earliest documented references to the Cárcamo name can be found in the "Repartimiento de Sevilla," a document from the 13th century that recorded the distribution of land and properties among the Christian conquerors of Seville after the Reconquista. This document lists several individuals with the surname Cárcamo, indicating their presence in the region during that time.

As the Cárcamo family spread throughout Spain, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Carcamo, Cárcamo, and Carcamo. These variations were common due to regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling conventions in the past.

Notable individuals with the surname Cárcamo throughout history include:

1. Rodrigo Cárcamo (c. 1460-1535), a Spanish military leader and conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés.
2. Alonso Cárcamo (c. 1520-1590), a Spanish poet and playwright from Seville, known for his works in the Renaissance literary tradition.
3. María Cárcamo (c. 1570-1640), a Spanish nun and mystic who founded the Convent of the Immaculate Conception in Granada.
4. Juan Cárcamo y Hurtado (1628-1690), a Spanish nobleman and landowner from Córdoba, who served as a local magistrate.
5. Pedro Cárcamo Alvear (1778-1848), a Chilean military officer and politician who played a role in the country's struggle for independence from Spain.

While the Cárcamo surname originated in Spain, it has since spread to other regions through migration and conquest, particularly to Latin American countries with significant Spanish influence, such as Mexico, Chile, and Argentina. The name continues to be carried by individuals of Spanish descent worldwide, serving as a testament to its rich historical roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cárcamo

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

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

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

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