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

Chanchavac, 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 Chanchavac surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chanchavac in America

Chanchavac is the 84463rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chanchavac surname appeared 222 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 Chanchavac.

The history of the last name Chanchavac

The surname CHANCHAVAC has its origins in the Mayan region of Central America, particularly in the areas that are now modern-day Guatemala and Belize. It dates back to the time of the ancient Maya civilization, which flourished from around the 3rd century AD to the 16th century.

The name CHANCHAVAC is believed to be derived from the Mayan language, with possible roots in the words "chan" meaning "small" or "little," and "chavac" which may have referred to a specific type of plant or tree native to the region. This suggests that the name could have originally been a descriptive term or a locational name associated with a particular settlement or area where a particular plant or tree was found.

There are no known historical references to the name CHANCHAVAC in major ancient manuscripts or records, such as the Maya codices or the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Quiché Maya. However, this does not necessarily mean that the name did not exist during that time, as many personal names and family names were not extensively recorded in written form.

The earliest recorded instance of the name CHANCHAVAC is believed to be from the late 16th century, during the Spanish colonial period in Central America. One notable individual bearing this name was Juan CHANCHAVAC, a Maya nobleman and leader who was involved in negotiations with Spanish authorities in the late 1500s.

Another historical figure with the CHANCHAVAC surname was María CHANCHAVAC, a Maya healer and midwife who lived in the 17th century in what is now the Petén region of Guatemala. She was renowned for her extensive knowledge of traditional Mayan medicinal practices and her contributions to preserving Maya cultural traditions.

In the 18th century, there was a Pedro CHANCHAVAC, a skilled Maya artisan and sculptor who was known for his intricate carvings and artwork depicting scenes from Maya mythology and history. His works were highly sought after by Spanish colonial officials and collectors.

During the 19th century, a figure named Tomás CHANCHAVAC gained prominence as a Maya community leader and advocate for indigenous rights in the face of growing tensions with the Spanish colonial authorities and later, the newly independent Mexican government.

Lastly, in the early 20th century, there was a renowned Maya linguist and scholar named Juana CHANCHAVAC, who dedicated her life to preserving and documenting the Mayan languages and cultural traditions of her ancestors. Her work was instrumental in ensuring the survival and continued study of these languages and customs.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chanchavac

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

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

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

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