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

Charcas, 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 Charcas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Charcas in America

Charcas is the 123796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Charcas surname appeared 139 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 Charcas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Charcas 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 Charcas

The surname Charcas has its origins in Bolivia, originating from the region of Charcas, which encompassed parts of modern-day Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, and Peru during the Spanish colonial period. The name is derived from the Quechua word "ch'arki," meaning "dried meat" or "jerky," suggesting a connection to indigenous communities involved in preserving meat.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Charcas dates back to the 16th century, when Spanish colonizers began documenting the names of indigenous people and mixed-race individuals in the region. Some of the earliest mentions of the surname can be found in colonial records, such as parish registers and census documents from that time.

One notable individual bearing the surname Charcas was Diego de Charcas, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru alongside Francisco Pizarro in the early 16th century. De Charcas played a role in the capture of the Inca emperor Atahualpa and the subsequent subjugation of the Inca Empire.

In the 17th century, the name Charcas appeared in records related to the Audiencia de Charcas, a Spanish colonial administrative district that governed the region. Juan de Charcas y Mendoza, born in 1621, was a prominent landowner and rancher in the Charcas region during this period.

During the 18th century, the surname Charcas became associated with the silver mining industry that flourished in the region. Bartolomé de Charcas, born in 1709, was a wealthy mine owner and influential figure in the colonial society of Potosí, a city renowned for its silver mines.

In the 19th century, as Bolivia gained independence from Spain, the surname Charcas gained recognition through individuals involved in the country's political and intellectual spheres. Pedro de Charcas, born in 1803, was a renowned writer and journalist who advocated for Bolivian independence and played a role in shaping the country's national identity.

Throughout its history, the surname Charcas has been carried by numerous individuals from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the region from which it originated. While the name's prevalence may have diminished in modern times, it remains a significant part of Bolivia's historical legacy and a testament to the enduring influence of indigenous cultures on the country's identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Charcas

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

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

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

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