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

Castelán, 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 Castelán surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Castelán in America

Castelán is the 9048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Castelán surname appeared 3,611 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Castelán.

We can also compare 2010 data for Castelán 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 Castelán

The surname CASTELAN has its origins in Spain, with the earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Latin word "castellanus," which means "of the castle" or "pertaining to a castle." This suggests that the original bearers of the name were likely castle-dwellers, castellans, or individuals associated with castles or fortified structures.

In medieval Spain, the CASTELAN surname was particularly prevalent in the regions of Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands. These areas were known for their numerous castles and fortifications, as they were vital defensive structures during the Reconquista – the centuries-long struggle between Christian and Moorish forces for control of the Iberian Peninsula.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the CASTELAN name can be found in the 13th-century Llibre dels Fets, a chronicle of the life and deeds of King James I of Aragon. This historical text mentions a certain Guillem de Castelan, who served as a loyal knight and advisor to the king during the conquest of Valencia in the early 1200s.

Another notable figure bearing the CASTELAN surname was Ramon de Castelan, a 14th-century Catalan nobleman and military commander. He played a crucial role in the defense of the city of Barcelona against the forces of King Pedro IV of Aragon during the War of the Two Peters in the 1360s.

In the 15th century, a branch of the CASTELAN family settled in the region of Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands. Here, they established themselves as prominent landowners and civic leaders. One of the most notable members of this branch was Joan Baptista Castelan (1517-1593), a renowned scholar and author who wrote extensively on the history and culture of Mallorca.

As the CASTELAN name spread across Spain and its territories, it underwent various spelling variations, including Castellan, Castellano, and Castellanos. These variations reflect the regional linguistic differences and dialects found throughout the Iberian Peninsula.

Another distinguished bearer of the CASTELAN surname was Diego Castelan y Roca (1738-1821), a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the governor of several Spanish territories in the Americas, including Louisiana and Puerto Rico, during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Throughout its long history, the CASTELAN surname has been associated with nobility, military service, and scholarly pursuits. Its enduring presence in Spain and its former colonies serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and legacy of this distinguished family name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Castelán

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

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

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

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