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

Custodio, 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 Custodio surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Custodio in America

Custodio is the 9093rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Custodio surname appeared 3,592 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 Custodio.

We can also compare 2010 data for Custodio 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 Custodio

The surname Custodio has its origins in Portugal, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Latin word "custodius," meaning "guardian" or "protector." This connection to the concept of guardianship and protection likely stems from the occupation or role of an ancestor who bore this surname.

In medieval times, the name Custodio appeared in various Portuguese records and manuscripts, including land deeds and church registers. One of the earliest known references is found in a document from the Monastery of Santa Cruz in Coimbra, dated 1278, which mentions a certain Pero Custodio.

As the name spread throughout Portugal, it also took on regional variations in spelling, such as Custodinho and Custodia. These variations often reflected local dialects or the influence of other languages, such as Spanish, in border regions.

One notable figure bearing the Custodio surname was João Custodio, a Portuguese explorer who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his pioneering voyage to India in 1498. João Custodio played a crucial role as an interpreter and diplomat, helping to establish trade relations between Portugal and the Indian subcontinent.

Another historically significant individual was Jerónimo Custodio de Sá, a 17th-century Portuguese nobleman and military commander who served as the Governor of Rio de Janeiro from 1658 to 1662. He was instrumental in defending the city against Dutch and French invasions during this period.

In the realm of literature, the name Custodio is associated with Manuel Custodio Faria, a 19th-century Portuguese poet and playwright born in 1828. His works, such as "Poesias" and "Camões e Filhos," explored themes of national identity and the legacy of Portuguese culture.

The Custodio surname also found its way to various Portuguese colonies and territories, including Brazil and Goa, India. In Goa, the name Custodio de Pinho was notable, referring to a prominent family that played a significant role in the region's history during the Portuguese colonial era.

Another noteworthy figure was Duarte Custodio Pacheco, a 16th-century Portuguese navigator and cartographer who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his famous voyage of circumnavigation. Pacheco's detailed charts and maps were invaluable contributions to the exploration of the Pacific Ocean and the Philippines.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Custodio

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

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

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

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