Cepeda
A Spanish habitational surname referring to someone from any of several places named Cepeda, meaning "a forest of cedar trees."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 13,436 Americans carry the last name Cepeda. That puts it at #3,112 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.92 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 25,510 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cepeda surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
13K
1 in 25,510
Census rank
#3,112
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
12K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 11,572 bearers of the surname Cepeda in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.92 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3112th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cepeda, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.7%. The next largest groups are White (3.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cepeda
The surname Cepeda has its origins in Spain, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "cepa," meaning "vine stock" or "grapevine." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with vineyards or wine-making.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Cepeda surname can be found in the Becerro de Behetrias, a medieval census document from the 14th century. It lists individuals with the surname Cepeda residing in the region of Castile, indicating that the name was already established in that area during that time.
The Cepeda surname is also believed to have ties to the town of Cepeda, located in the province of Salamanca, Spain. Some historians suggest that the name may have originated as a toponym, referring to individuals who hailed from or resided in this particular town.
In the 16th century, notable individuals with the Cepeda surname included Juan de la Cepeda (1495-1543), a Spanish theologian and writer, and María de Cepeda y Ahumada (1515-1582), better known as St. Teresa of Avila, a renowned Carmelite nun, mystic, and writer.
Another prominent figure was Diego de Cepeda y Ahumada (1510-1579), a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Guatemala and served as the first governor of Nueva Vizcaya (present-day northern Mexico).
In the 17th century, Francisco de Cepeda y Figueroa (1592-1660) was a Spanish playwright and poet who contributed to the Spanish Golden Age of literature.
Moving to the 18th century, José Cepeda y Castro (1734-1804) was a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Montevideo, Uruguay, and later as the viceroy of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata.
These are just a few examples of individuals with the Cepeda surname who have left their mark throughout history, highlighting the widespread and longstanding presence of this name across various regions and professions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cepeda
Among Census respondents with the surname Cepeda, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.7%. The next largest groups are White (3.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Cepeda bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Cepeda surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino90.7%
- White3.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.3%
- Black or African American1.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Cepeda surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,112 | #3,112 | 0.0% |
| Count | 11,572 | 11,572 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 3.92 | 3.92 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Cepeda bearers went from 11,572 to 11,572 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #3,112 to #3,112.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Cepeda
FAQ
Cepeda surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Cepeda?
The surname Cepeda holds position #3,112 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 13,436 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 3.92 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Cepeda surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cepeda, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.7%. The next largest groups are White (3.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.