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

Desierto, 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 Desierto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Desierto in America

Desierto is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Desierto surname appeared 100 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 Desierto.

The history of the last name Desierto

The surname Desierto is of Spanish origin, derived from the Spanish word "desierto" meaning "desert." It likely originated in Spain during the medieval period, possibly referring to someone who lived in or near a desert region or had some connection to the desert environment.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Desierto can be traced back to the 15th century in various regions of Spain, particularly in areas with arid or semi-arid climates. Some of the earliest known bearers of this surname include Juan del Desierto, born in 1439 in Seville, and Pedro Desierto, a farmer from Murcia, mentioned in a land registry document from 1482.

In the 16th century, the name Desierto appeared in various historical records and documents, including the "Libro de las Bulas" (Book of Bulls), a collection of papal decrees and documents from the Spanish Empire. One notable figure from this period was Fray Tomás Desierto, a Franciscan friar and explorer born in 1518 in Córdoba, who accompanied expeditions to the Americas and documented his travels through the deserts of the Americas.

During the 17th century, the Desierto surname continued to be found in various regions of Spain, with some bearers migrating to the Spanish colonies in the Americas. One notable figure from this time was Catalina Desierto, born in 1621 in Seville, who later settled in Mexico City and became a prominent landowner and philanthropist.

In the 18th century, the Desierto surname appeared in records from various parts of the Spanish Empire, including the Americas. One notable bearer was Antonio Desierto, born in 1732 in Cádiz, Spain, who later became a renowned explorer and cartographer, mapping vast areas of the deserts in what is now the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

In the 19th century, the Desierto surname was found in various parts of Spain, as well as in Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. One notable figure from this period was General Juan Desierto, born in 1812 in Granada, Spain, who fought in several military campaigns and played a significant role in the Spanish-American War.

Over the centuries, the Desierto surname has been associated with various professions, including farmers, explorers, military personnel, and landowners, often reflecting a connection to arid or desert environments. While the name has its roots in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the Spanish-speaking world, reflecting the historical spread of the Spanish language and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Desierto

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

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 Desierto 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.

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

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

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