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

Esqueda, 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 Esqueda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Esqueda in America

Esqueda is the 5963rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Esqueda surname appeared 5,773 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Esqueda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Esqueda 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 Esqueda

The surname Esqueda originates from Spain and is believed to have roots dating back to the 8th century AD, when the Iberian Peninsula was under Moorish rule. Some linguists suggest that the name may be derived from the Arabic word "al-Saqāt," meaning "the waterfall" or "the cascade." This could indicate that the earliest bearers of the name lived near a waterfall or in a region with abundant water sources.

During the Reconquista, as Christian kingdoms gradually reclaimed control over the Iberian Peninsula, the name Esqueda likely underwent linguistic evolution, adapting to the Spanish language. Early records from the 12th century mention individuals with the surname Esqueda residing in the regions of Castile and Aragon.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name Esqueda was Juan Esqueda, a nobleman and military commander who fought alongside King Alfonso XI of Castile during the Battle of Río Salado against the Marinid dynasty in 1340. Juan Esqueda was celebrated for his bravery and strategic skills in this pivotal battle.

The earliest known written record of the surname Esqueda can be found in the Libro de la Montería, a 14th-century manuscript detailing hunting grounds and activities during the reign of King Alfonso XI. This document mentions a landowner named Pedro Esqueda, whose property was located near the town of Molina de Aragón.

In the 16th century, during the Spanish colonization of the Americas, several individuals with the surname Esqueda made their way to the New World. One notable figure was Diego Esqueda, a conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico in the 1520s. Diego Esqueda later settled in the region of Puebla, where he established a hacienda and contributed to the development of the local community.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Francisca Esqueda, a 17th-century nun and educator who founded one of the first schools for girls in New Spain (present-day Mexico). Her work in promoting education for women was groundbreaking for that era.

Moving forward to the 19th century, José Esqueda, a Mexican military officer and revolutionary, played a significant role in the Mexican War of Independence against Spanish rule. He fought alongside Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and later became a general in the insurgent army.

Throughout history, the surname Esqueda has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, politicians, and academics. While the name may have evolved over time and spread across different regions, its roots can be traced back to the Iberian Peninsula, where it has a rich and fascinating historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Esqueda

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

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

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

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