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

Cupeles, 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 Cupeles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cupeles in America

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

The Cupeles 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 Cupeles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cupeles 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 Cupeles

The surname Cupeles is believed to have originated in the region of Castile, Spain, during the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old Spanish word "cupela," which referred to a small cup or vessel used in the process of refining precious metals, particularly gold and silver.

The earliest known records of the name Cupeles can be traced back to the city of Segovia, a renowned center for metalworking and jewelry craftsmanship. It is likely that the name was initially adopted by individuals or families involved in these trades, as a reflection of their occupation or association with the cupela.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various municipal records and tax rolls from the Kingdom of Castile and León. One notable mention is found in the census records of the city of Burgos, where a certain Juan Cupeles is listed as a master goldsmith in the year 1285.

As the name spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula, variations in spelling emerged, such as Cupeles, Cupelos, and Cupelas. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preference of scribes who recorded the name in official documents.

One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the surname Cupeles was Rodrigo Cupeles, a renowned silversmith who lived in Toledo during the late 14th century. His intricate works were highly sought after by the nobility and clergy of the time.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Juan de Cupeles (1525-1592), a renowned architect and military engineer who served under King Philip II of Spain. He was responsible for the design and construction of several fortifications along the Spanish-Portuguese border, as well as the renovation of the Alcázar of Toledo.

Another notable figure was Hernán Cupeles (1570-1632), a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Pedro Fernández de Quirós on his expeditions to the Pacific Ocean in the early 17th century. Cupeles played a crucial role in charting the islands of the Tuamotu Archipelago and is believed to have been one of the first Europeans to sight the island of Tahiti.

In the realm of literature, María Cupeles (1645-1708) was a celebrated poet and playwright from Seville, whose works were widely acclaimed during the Spanish Golden Age. Her play "La Dama Valiente" (The Valiant Lady) was particularly renowned for its portrayal of strong female characters.

Another notable figure was Alonso Cupeles (1712-1784), a Spanish military officer who served as the Governor of Puerto Rico from 1768 to 1776. His leadership during this period was instrumental in fortifying the island's defenses and strengthening its economic ties with the Spanish mainland.

While the surname Cupeles is not as common today as it once was, it remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of metalworking and craftsmanship in Spain, particularly in the regions of Castile and Andalusia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cupeles

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

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

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

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