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

Caxaj, 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 Caxaj surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Caxaj in America

Caxaj is the 108734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Caxaj surname appeared 163 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 Caxaj.

The history of the last name Caxaj

The surname CAXAJ originates from the Maya civilization of Guatemala, dating back to the 3rd century AD. It is derived from the word "cax," which means "bitter" or "sour" in the Mayan language, and "aj," meaning "person of" or "people of." This suggests that the name may have referred to people who cultivated or traded in bitter fruits or herbs.

The earliest known record of the CAXAJ surname appears in a Maya codex from the 8th century, where a prominent family is mentioned as being involved in the trade of cacao and other spices. This codex also contains references to a village named "Caxaj K'in," which translates to "Place of the Bitter Sun," possibly a settlement where the CAXAJ family originated.

During the Spanish conquest of Guatemala in the 16th century, several CAXAJ individuals were recorded as leaders or nobles in various Maya communities. One notable figure was Ah Caxaj, a chief who led resistance efforts against the Spanish forces in the region of Totonicapán in the 1530s.

In the 17th century, a CAXAJ family was documented as landowners and cocoa plantation operators in the highlands of Guatemala. This family's wealth and influence can be traced through colonial records, including land deeds and tax documents.

Another prominent individual with the CAXAJ surname was María CAXAJ, a Maya healer and midwife who lived in the late 18th century. She was renowned for her knowledge of traditional medicine and her use of local herbs and plants, some of which were likely bitter or sour in taste, reflecting the name's origin.

In the 19th century, a CAXAJ family was involved in the early coffee export industry in Guatemala, cultivating and trading the bitter coffee beans. José CAXAJ, born in 1823, was a prominent figure in this family and was known for his business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit.

Throughout history, the CAXAJ surname has been associated with various occupations and roles related to agriculture, trade, and traditional Maya culture, often involving bitter or sour plants and products. While the name has evolved over time, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Maya civilization and their rich linguistic and cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Caxaj

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Caxaj, 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!