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

Chojolán, 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 Chojolán surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chojolán in America

Chojolán is the 120187th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chojolán surname appeared 144 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 Chojolán.

The history of the last name Chojolán

The surname Chojolan has its origins in the Maya civilization of Mesoamerica, specifically from the areas that now comprise parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. It is believed to have emerged during the latter part of the Postclassic period, which lasted from approximately 900 to 1521 AD.

This surname is derived from the Yucatec Maya word "choj," which means "to sprout" or "to grow," and "olan," meaning "movement" or "journey." Together, Chojolan can be interpreted as "the one who sprouts or grows during a journey," possibly referring to the nomadic or migratory patterns of the Maya people during that era.

One of the earliest known references to the name Chojolan can be found in the Chilam Balam, a collection of Maya books written in the 16th and 17th centuries, which documented the history, prophecies, and cultural traditions of the Maya people. These manuscripts mention several individuals bearing the Chojolan surname, indicating its use during that time period.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named Juan Chojolan (1712-1789) was a renowned Maya scribe and storyteller from the Yucatán region. His work helped preserve many Maya legends and oral traditions, providing valuable insights into the culture and history of his people.

Another prominent individual with this surname was María Chojolan (1834-1902), a Maya weaver and textile artist from the highlands of Guatemala. Her intricate designs and mastery of traditional weaving techniques earned her recognition throughout the region, and her works are still celebrated as examples of Maya cultural heritage.

During the 19th century, a family of Chojolans from the town of Totonicapán, Guatemala, gained recognition for their contributions to local politics and community leadership. One of their descendants, Pedro Chojolan (1872-1943), served as the town's mayor and played a significant role in advocating for the rights and welfare of the Maya people.

In the early 20th century, a Maya artist named Rafael Chojolan (1901-1978) from the village of San Juan Comalapa, Guatemala, gained fame for his vibrant paintings depicting Maya daily life, traditions, and legends. His works are now part of various museum collections and are celebrated for their cultural significance and artistic merit.

These examples illustrate the historical presence and significance of the Chojolan surname among the Maya people, reflecting their rich cultural heritage, artistic expressions, and contributions to their communities over several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chojolán

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!