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

Estévez, 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 Estévez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Estévez in America

Estévez is the 3273rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Estévez surname appeared 11,032 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Estévez.

We can also compare 2010 data for Estévez 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 Estévez

The surname Estevez is of Spanish origin, derived from the personal name Esteban, which in turn comes from the Greek name Stephanos, meaning "crown" or "wreath". The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century in the regions of Galicia, Andalusia, and Catalonia.

The name Estevez is believed to have emerged as a patronymic, indicating "son of Esteban". It was common practice in medieval Spain to adopt surnames derived from the father's given name, often with the addition of the suffix "-ez" or "-es". This naming convention helped distinguish families and establish lineages.

Historical records show that the Estevez surname appears in various medieval documents, such as property deeds, legal contracts, and municipal registers. One notable example is the appearance of the name in the Catalonian census of 1497, which listed several families bearing the Estevez surname.

The Estevez name has been linked to several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Pedro Estevez, a 14th-century Spanish soldier who fought in the Reconquista campaigns against the Moors. Another prominent figure was Gonzalo Estevez, a 16th-century navigator and explorer who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his famous voyage around the world.

In the realm of arts and literature, the name Estevez is associated with the 17th-century Spanish playwright and poet, Francisco Estevez. His works, particularly his comedies, were widely celebrated during the Golden Age of Spanish literature. Additionally, the 19th-century Spanish painter and engraver, Ignacio Estevez, gained recognition for his landscapes and portraits.

The Estevez surname has also been carried by notable individuals in more recent times. One example is Martin Estevez, a Spanish-born American actor and director, better known by his stage name Martin Sheen. Another prominent figure is his son, Emilio Estevez, an actor, director, and writer who has appeared in several critically acclaimed films.

It is worth noting that the name Estevez has also been subject to various spelling variations over time, including Esteves, Estevão, and Estebán, reflecting regional linguistic differences and influences within the Spanish-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Estévez

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

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

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

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