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

Espaillat, 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 Espaillat surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Espaillat in America

Espaillat is the 22673rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Espaillat surname appeared 1,131 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 Espaillat.

We can also compare 2010 data for Espaillat 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 Espaillat

The surname Espaillat has its roots in the Dominican Republic and can be traced back to the early 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Spanish word "espaillat," which means "a place where esparto grass grows." This grass, also known as "esparto," was commonly used for making baskets, mats, and other woven items in Spain and its colonies.

The Espaillat name was likely introduced to the Dominican Republic during the Spanish colonization of the island, which began in 1492. It is possible that some of the early Spanish settlers or explorers who came to the region bore this surname, as it was not uncommon for place names or geographic features to influence surname formation during that time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Espaillat name can be found in the archives of the Dominican Republic, dating back to the mid-16th century. These records document the presence of individuals with this surname in various parts of the country, suggesting that the name had already established itself within the local population by that time.

Throughout the colonial era and into the 19th century, the Espaillat family played a significant role in the political and social fabric of the Dominican Republic. Notable figures include Tomás Espaillat y Viñal, a prominent military leader and politician who served as the President of the Dominican Republic from 1876 to 1878.

Another prominent individual bearing the Espaillat surname was Rafael Espaillat, born in 1853. He was a renowned writer, journalist, and diplomat who served as the Dominican ambassador to several countries, including the United States and France.

In the 20th century, the Espaillat name continued to be associated with influential figures in Dominican society. One such individual was Ramón Espaillat, a renowned lawyer and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and later as the President of the Dominican Republic from 1936 to 1938.

Arturo Espaillat, born in 1954, is a contemporary figure who has made his mark in American politics. He currently serves as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing New York's 13th congressional district.

While the Espaillat surname has its roots in the Dominican Republic, it has also spread to other countries through immigration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the Spanish colonial era and the introduction of this name to the Caribbean region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Espaillat

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

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

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

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