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

Cuba, 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 Cuba surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cuba in America

Cuba is the 15090th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cuba surname appeared 1,955 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 Cuba.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cuba 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 Cuba

The surname CUBA is of Spanish origin, deriving from the name of the Caribbean island country of Cuba. The name likely emerged in the 16th or 17th century during the Spanish colonization of the region.

The Spanish name "Cuba" is thought to have originated from the Taíno language, spoken by the indigenous people of the Caribbean islands. It is believed to be derived from the Taíno words "cubao" or "coabana," meaning "fertile land" or "great place."

Some of the earliest known references to the surname CUBA can be found in Spanish colonial records from the 16th and 17th centuries, when Spanish settlers and administrators began establishing themselves in Cuba. During this period, the surname may have been adopted by individuals with connections to the island, whether through birth, residence, or administrative roles.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname CUBA was Diego de Cuba, a Spanish conquistador and explorer who participated in the conquest of Cuba in the early 16th century. Another notable figure was Nicolás de Cuba, a Spanish soldier and colonial administrator who served as the interim governor of Cuba in the late 16th century.

In the 18th century, Juan de Cuba y Arredondo (1667-1743) was a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Cuba from 1724 to 1734. During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of several important fortifications in Havana, including the iconic El Morro Castle.

The 19th century saw the birth of José María de Cuba y Soler (1808-1880), a Cuban lawyer, politician, and independence advocate who played a prominent role in the struggle for Cuban independence from Spanish rule. He was a member of the Cuban Revolutionary Party and served as the president of the Cuban Revolutionary Committee in exile.

Another notable figure was José de Cuba y García (1858-1917), a Cuban artist and painter known for his landscapes, portraits, and religious works. He studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid and is considered one of the most important Cuban painters of the late 19th century.

While the surname CUBA is primarily associated with Spain and its former colonies, it has also been adopted by individuals in other parts of the world, likely due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its roots can be traced back to the Spanish colonization of the Caribbean island that bears its name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cuba

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

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

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

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