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

Chaparro, 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 Chaparro surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chaparro in America

Chaparro is the 5718th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chaparro surname appeared 6,066 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Chaparro.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chaparro 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 Chaparro

The surname Chaparro originated in Spain during the late Middle Ages. It is derived from the Spanish word "chaparro," which means a short, squat tree or bush. This descriptor likely referred to a person of short stature or someone who lived near a dense thicket of low-growing vegetation.

The earliest recorded instances of the Chaparro surname appear in regional records and manuscripts from the northern Spanish provinces, particularly Asturias and Cantabria. The name was also found in medieval Castilian documents, suggesting its widespread use across the northern territories of the Iberian Peninsula.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Chaparro surname was Gonzalo Chaparro, a nobleman who fought alongside King Alfonso VIII of Castile during the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212. This decisive victory over the Almohad Caliphate marked a turning point in the Reconquista, the centuries-long campaign to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Moorish rule.

Another notable figure was Pedro Chaparro, a prominent architect and stonemason from Burgos in the 15th century. He was renowned for his work on several grand cathedrals and churches, including the iconic Cathedral of Burgos, one of Spain's most celebrated examples of Gothic architecture.

During the Age of Exploration, the Chaparro surname spread across the Spanish Empire as conquistadors, settlers, and missionaries ventured to the New World. One such explorer was Juan Chaparro, a navigator and cartographer who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to conquer Mexico in 1519. Chaparro's detailed maps and charts were instrumental in guiding the Spanish forces through unfamiliar territories.

In the realm of literature, María Chaparro was a celebrated poet and writer from Seville in the 16th century. Her works, which explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality, were widely acclaimed and often recited in the salons and literary circles of the Spanish Golden Age.

As the Chaparro surname journeyed across the Atlantic, it took root in various regions of Latin America, including Mexico, Argentina, and Chile. One prominent bearer was José Chaparro, a Mexican military officer and politician who played a crucial role in the Mexican War of Independence against Spain in the early 19th century.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable figures associated with the Chaparro surname, which has left an indelible mark on the cultural tapestry of Spain and its former colonial territories.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chaparro

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

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

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

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