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

Castilleja, 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 Castilleja surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Castilleja in America

Castilleja is the 10125th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Castilleja surname appeared 3,183 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 Castilleja.

We can also compare 2010 data for Castilleja 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 Castilleja

The surname Castilleja has its origins in Spain, specifically in the regions of Castilla and León, dating back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Spanish word "castillo," meaning castle or fortified structure, and likely referred to someone who lived near or was associated with a particular castle or fortified area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Castilleja surname can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrías, a medieval census of landowners and their properties, compiled in the 14th century during the reign of King Pedro I of Castile. This document mentions individuals bearing the surname Castilleja in various villages and towns across Castilla and León.

In the 15th century, the Castilleja surname appears in historical records related to the Spanish Reconquista, the centuries-long struggle to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Moorish rule. Several individuals with the Castilleja surname are mentioned as soldiers or military commanders who participated in the conquest of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain.

One notable figure from this era was Rodrigo de Castilleja, a military commander who fought alongside the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, in the final stages of the Reconquista. He was born in the late 15th century and played a crucial role in the siege and capture of Granada in 1492.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Castilleja surname spread throughout the Spanish Empire, as individuals bearing this name accompanied the conquistadors and settlers to the Americas and other territories. In the Spanish colonial records of the time, we find references to individuals such as Juan de Castilleja, a conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century.

Another prominent figure was Pedro de Castilleja, a Spanish explorer and navigator who was among the first Europeans to set foot in the region now known as California. He was part of the expedition led by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542, which explored the Pacific coast of present-day California.

In the realm of literature, one notable individual with the Castilleja surname was Cristóbal de Castilleja, a Spanish poet and writer who lived in the 16th century. He is considered one of the most important poets of the Spanish Renaissance and is best known for his works exploring themes of courtly love and chivalry.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the Castilleja surname who have left their mark on history, but there are many more whose stories and contributions have shaped the cultural and historical heritage of Spain and its former colonies across the globe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Castilleja

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

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

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

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