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

Chico, 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 Chico surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chico in America

Chico is the 9788th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chico surname appeared 3,308 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Chico.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chico 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 Chico

The surname Chico originated in Spain, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is derived from the Spanish word "chico," meaning "small" or "young." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname or descriptive name for someone of small stature or youthful appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Chico surname appears in the "Libro de la Montería" (Book of the Hunt), a 14th-century manuscript detailing Spanish hunting practices and the names of prominent individuals involved in the sport. The manuscript mentions a certain "Juan Chico" from the region of Castile.

In the 15th century, records show a notable figure named Pedro Chico, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. Pedro Chico played a crucial role in the exploration and settlement of the Caribbean islands.

During the 16th century, the Chico surname gained prominence in the Basque region of Spain. One notable bearer of the name was Juan Chico de Guzmán (1478-1550), a Spanish soldier and conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru under Francisco Pizarro.

The name Chico is also linked to several place names in Spain, such as Chico de Guzmán, a municipality in the province of Huelva, and Chico de Villa, a village in the province of Cuenca. These place names may have influenced the spread and adoption of the surname in their respective regions.

Another noteworthy figure with the Chico surname was Antonio Chico de Guzmán (1610-1668), a Spanish painter known for his religious works and portraiture. He was active in Seville during the Golden Age of Spanish art.

In the 18th century, José Chico y Reina (1747-1823) was a Spanish military officer and politician who served as the governor of several provinces in Spain and participated in the Peninsular War against the French invasion.

Throughout its history, the Chico surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including explorers, soldiers, artists, and politicians, reflecting the diverse heritage and contributions of those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chico

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

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

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

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