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

Descalzo, 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 Descalzo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Descalzo in America

Descalzo is the 120187th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Descalzo surname appeared 144 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 Descalzo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Descalzo 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 Descalzo

The surname DESCALZO originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "descalzo," meaning "barefoot" or "unshod." This name likely referred to someone who went about without shoes, possibly a religious mendicant or a peasant who could not afford footwear.

The earliest recorded instances of the DESCALZO surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Spain, including Castile, Aragon, and Andalusia. It appears in some medieval documents and records, though specific references are scarce due to the limited documentation from that era.

One of the earliest known bearers of the DESCALZO name was Pedro Descalzo, a Franciscan friar who lived in the late 13th century and was known for his ascetic lifestyle and devotion to poverty. He is mentioned in some historical accounts of the Franciscan order in Spain.

In the 15th century, the name DESCALZO appears in connection with the Carmelite Order of Discalced Carmelites, also known as the Barefoot Carmelites. This religious order, founded by Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint John of the Cross, emphasized a life of austerity and simplicity, with members going barefoot as a sign of humility and poverty.

One notable figure from this order was Fray Juan de la Cruz Descalzo (1542-1591), a Discalced Carmelite friar and mystic who played a significant role in the reform of the Carmelite order alongside Saint Teresa of Avila. He is known for his spiritual writings and his contributions to the Counter-Reformation in Spain.

Another individual with the DESCALZO surname was Diego Descalzo, a Spanish explorer and conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century. His name is mentioned in some accounts of the Spanish expeditions to the Americas.

In the 17th century, the DESCALZO surname appears in connection with the town of Descalzos, located in the province of Burgos, Spain. This place name likely derived from the presence of a Discalced Carmelite monastery in the area, and it may have influenced the surname's prevalence in that region.

Throughout the centuries, the DESCALZO surname has been carried by various individuals, though few have achieved widespread historical recognition. It remains a relatively uncommon surname, primarily found in Spain and among Spanish-speaking communities around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Descalzo

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

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

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

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