2000
#15,524
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,730
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.64
Rare Last name
Espada
A surname of Spanish origin meaning "sword," likely referring to a swordsman or sword maker.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,737 Americans carry the last name Espada. That puts it at #12,416 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.80 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 125,230 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Espada surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.7K
1 in 125,230
Census rank
#12,416
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,387 bearers of the surname Espada in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.80 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12416th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Espada, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 89.4%. The next largest groups are White (7.8%) and Black (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Espada
The surname Espada originates from Spain, with its earliest records dating back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Spanish word "espada," which means sword. This name likely originated from a person who was skilled in swordsmanship or may have been a swordsmith by trade.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Espada can be found in the historical archives of the city of Sevilla, where a certain Juan Espada was mentioned as a resident in the year 1492. This coincides with the year when Christopher Columbus set sail on his famous voyage to the Americas, suggesting that the Espada name has deep roots in Spanish history.
In the 16th century, the Espada name appeared in various records throughout Spain, including in the town of Cadiz, where a prominent family with the surname Espada resided. During this period, the name was also sometimes spelled as "Espada de la Calle," which translates to "Sword of the Street," possibly indicating a connection to a renowned swordsman or a street named after swords.
Historically, the Espada name has been associated with military prowess and valor. One notable individual was Captain Hernán Espada, who served in the Spanish Armada during the late 16th century. He is recorded as having participated in several naval battles against the English, demonstrating the bravery often associated with the Espada name.
Another significant figure was Don Pedro Espada, born in 1654 in Madrid. He was a renowned scholar and philosopher who authored several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy during the Spanish Golden Age. His writings were widely circulated throughout Europe and helped shape the intellectual discourse of the time.
In the 18th century, the Espada name gained prominence in the Americas, particularly in Mexico. One notable individual was Doña Maria Espada, born in 1732 in Veracruz, who was a prominent landowner and philanthropist. She was instrumental in the establishment of several charitable organizations and educational institutions in the region.
Throughout history, the Espada surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, and politicians. However, the name has consistently been associated with strength, courage, and a connection to the noble art of swordsmanship, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Spain.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Espada
Among Census respondents with the surname Espada, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 89.4%. The next largest groups are White (7.8%) and Black (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Espada bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Espada surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino89.4% · 2,135
- White7.8% · 185
- Black or African American1.4% · 34
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0% · 24
- Two or more races0.3% · 6
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Espada
Espada appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#13,509
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,245
+515 bearers (+29.8%)
Per 100,000 0.76
Rank movement Up 2,015 places
2020
#12,416
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,387
+142 bearers (+6.3%)
Per 100,000 0.80
Rank movement Up 1,093 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #15,524 | 1,730 | 0.64 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #13,509 | 2,245 | 0.76 | +515 bearers (+29.8%) | Up 2,015 places |
| 2020 | #12,416 | 2,387 | 0.80 | +142 bearers (+6.3%) | Up 1,093 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Espada surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,509 | #12,416 | 8.1% |
| Count | 2,245 | 2,387 | 6.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.76 | 0.80 | 5.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Espada bearers went from 2,245 to 2,387 (+6.3% change). The surname moved up 1,093 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,509 to #12,416.
FAQ
Espada surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Espada?
Name Census estimates that about 2,737 living Americans carry the surname Espada. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 125,230 residents.
How common is Espada?
Espada ranks #12,416 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.80 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,387 people with the surname Espada. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,737), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.8 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.80 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Espada.
Has Espada become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Espada went from 2,245 recorded bearers to 2,387. That is an increase of 142 (+6.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #13,509 to #12,416.
What does the Census say about the background of Espada?
Among Census respondents with the surname Espada, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 89.4%. The next largest groups are White (7.8%) and Black (1.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Espada in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.4% (2,135 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Espada appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (89.4%), White (7.8%), Black (1.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Espada (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Espada mean?
A surname of Spanish origin meaning "sword," likely referring to a swordsman or sword maker. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Espada (0.80 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Espada?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.