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

Castillo, 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 Castillo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Castillo in America

Castillo is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Castillo surname appeared 104 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 Castillo.

The history of the last name Castillo

The surname CASTLLO is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. The name likely derives from the Spanish word "castillo," which means "castle" or "fortress." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived near a castle or worked in some capacity related to one.

In the early days, surnames were often derived from occupations, locations, or physical characteristics. The CASTLLO name likely originated in the regions of Spain where castles were prevalent, such as Castilla y León or Andalucía. It's possible that the name was initially used to identify individuals who worked as castle guards, servants, or in some other capacity associated with these fortified structures.

The earliest recorded instances of the CASTLLO surname can be found in medieval Spanish documents and records, although the exact dates and locations remain elusive due to variations in spelling and record-keeping practices of the time. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Juan de CASTLLO, a soldier in the Spanish army during the 14th century.

During the 15th century, the CASTLLO name gained prominence with the rise of Fernando de CASTLLO, a renowned architect who oversaw the construction of several notable castles and fortifications in Spain. His son, Pedro de CASTLLO (1465-1532), followed in his footsteps and became a renowned military engineer, contributing to the development of defensive structures across the Spanish Empire.

In the 16th century, the CASTLLO name appeared in various historical records, including the chronicles of the Spanish Inquisition. One notable figure was Alonso de CASTLLO (1520-1594), a Catholic priest who played a significant role in the religious upheavals of the time.

As the Spanish Empire expanded, the CASTLLO name spread across the Americas and other territories. One notable figure from this era was Bernal Díaz del CASTLLO (1492-1584), a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico and wrote a detailed account of the events, known as "The True History of the Conquest of New Spain."

In the 18th century, the CASTLLO name continued to be associated with military and political figures, such as Juan José de CASTLLO y Guzmán (1720-1789), a Spanish military officer and governor of various territories in the Americas.

Throughout history, the CASTLLO surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, writers, and intellectuals, further demonstrating its enduring legacy and connection to the rich cultural heritage of Spain and its former territories.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Castillo

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!