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

DeChavez, 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 DeChavez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DeChavez in America

DeChavez is the 67943rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DeChavez surname appeared 290 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 DeChavez.

We can also compare 2010 data for DeChavez 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 DeChavez

The surname DECHAVEZ originated in Spain during the 13th century. It is a contraction of the Spanish phrase "de Chavez", which translates to "from Chavez". Chavez was a town located in the northern region of Cantabria, near the city of Santander. The name likely derived from the Latin word "caveae", meaning "caves" or "caverns", as the area was known for its limestone caves and grottoes.

In the early 1300s, the name appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts, particularly those related to land ownership and taxation in the Cantabria region. One notable example is the Becerro de las Behetrías, a document from 1352 that listed the names of lords and their vassals, including several individuals with the surname DECHAVEZ.

The earliest recorded instance of the name DECHAVEZ dates back to 1287, when a certain Pedro DECHAVEZ was mentioned in a deed of sale for a plot of land in the village of Chavez. Another early bearer of the name was Juan DECHAVEZ, a soldier who fought in the Reconquista campaigns against the Moors in the late 13th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the DECHAVEZ surname remained primarily concentrated in northern Spain, particularly in the regions of Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia. However, as the Spanish Empire expanded, some individuals with this surname migrated to the Americas and other Spanish colonies.

One notable figure with the surname DECHAVEZ was Diego DECHAVEZ (1502-1578), a Spanish conquistador and explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico. He later became one of the first settlers in the city of Veracruz and was granted land and resources by the Spanish crown.

Another significant bearer of the name was Juana DECHAVEZ (1667-1741), a Galician noblewoman and landowner who played a pivotal role in the defense of her hometown against French invaders during the War of the Spanish Succession.

In the 19th century, Juan DECHAVEZ (1815-1892) was a prominent Spanish writer and journalist who advocated for liberal reforms and the abolition of slavery in the Spanish colonies. He was briefly exiled for his political activities but later returned to Spain and continued his literary and journalistic work.

Lastly, Pedro DECHAVEZ (1876-1940) was a Spanish-born architect who emigrated to Argentina in the early 20th century. He was responsible for designing several iconic buildings in Buenos Aires, including the Palacio de Aguas Corrientes and the Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DeChavez

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

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

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

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