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

Castro, 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 Castro surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Castro in America

Castro is the 138th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Castro surname appeared 184,134 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 62 people would have the surname Castro.

We can also compare 2010 data for Castro 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 Castro

The surname Castro is of Spanish origin, derived from the Latin word "castrum," meaning "fortified place" or "castle." It likely arose during the period of the Reconquista, the centuries-long struggle between Christian and Moorish forces in the Iberian Peninsula.

The name is thought to have originated in the northern regions of Spain, particularly in Galicia and Asturias, where many fortified settlements and castles were established during the Reconquista. The earliest recorded instances of the name Castro can be found in medieval documents and charters from these areas.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Rodrigo Castro, a nobleman and military commander who fought against the Moors in the 12th century. Another notable figure was Pedro Fernández de Castro, a 13th-century nobleman and military leader who played a pivotal role in the conquest of Seville.

The name Castro is also associated with several place names in Spain, such as Castro Urdiales in Cantabria, Castro Caldelas in Galicia, and Castro del Río in Andalusia. These place names likely influenced the adoption of the surname by residents of these areas.

Throughout history, there have been several prominent individuals with the surname Castro. One of the most famous was Fidel Castro, the former revolutionary leader and President of Cuba (1926-2016). Another notable figure was Américo Castro (1885-1972), a Spanish scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the study of Spanish literature and culture.

Other notable individuals with the surname Castro include:

1. Cipriano Castro (1859-1924), a Venezuelan military officer and President of Venezuela from 1899 to 1908.
2. Inés de Castro (c. 1325-1355), a Galician noblewoman and tragic figure in Portuguese history, whose love story with King Pedro I of Portugal has been widely romanticized.
3. José María Castro (1892-1964), a Mexican painter and muralist, known for his depictions of indigenous Mexican culture.
4. Rosalía de Castro (1837-1885), a Galician romantic poet and novelist, considered one of the most significant figures in Galician literature.

The surname Castro has a rich history rooted in the Iberian Peninsula, tracing its origins back to the medieval period and the struggle against Moorish rule. It has been borne by many notable individuals throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence in Spanish-speaking cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Castro

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

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

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

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