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

Cordova, 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 Cordova surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cordova in America

Cordova is the 762nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cordova surname appeared 45,305 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 15 people would have the surname Cordova.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cordova 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 Cordova

The surname Cordova has its origins in Spain, specifically in the region of Andalusia, and can be traced back to the 8th century AD. It is derived from the Arabic name "Qurtuba," which refers to the city of Cordoba, one of the most important cities during the Moorish rule of the Iberian Peninsula.

During the Moorish period, Cordoba was a renowned center of learning and culture, attracting scholars and intellectuals from across the Mediterranean world. The name Cordova likely emerged as a designation for individuals who hailed from this esteemed city or had some connection to it.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Cordova can be found in medieval Spanish documents and manuscripts, particularly those related to the Reconquista, the period of Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. Notable individuals bearing the name Cordova during this time include Fernando de Córdova, a prominent military leader who played a crucial role in the conquest of Granada in the late 15th century.

As the Reconquista progressed and the Iberian Peninsula was gradually unified under Christian rule, the surname Cordova spread to other regions of Spain and beyond. One notable figure was Francisco Fernández de Córdova, a Spanish explorer and conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century and served as the first Spanish governor of Nicaragua.

In the 17th century, the surname Cordova found its way to the Americas through Spanish colonization and migration. One prominent individual was Diego de Cordova, a Spanish conquistador who led expeditions to the Bahamas and the Caribbean in the early 1600s.

Later, in the 19th century, a notable bearer of the name was Antonio María de Córdova, a Mexican military officer and politician who served as the president of Mexico from 1853 to 1855.

Throughout history, the surname Cordova has been associated with various notable individuals across different fields, including writers, artists, and intellectuals. One such figure was Luis de Córdova y Aragón, a 16th-century Spanish poet and soldier who fought in the Italian Wars and wrote works that reflected on the themes of love and war.

While the surname Cordova has its roots in Spain and the Moorish influence, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. Today, individuals with the surname Cordova can be found in various countries, carrying on the legacy of this historic name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cordova

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

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

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

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