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

Esparza, 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 Esparza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Esparza in America

Esparza is the 130610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Esparza surname appeared 130 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 Esparza.

The history of the last name Esparza

The surname Ezparza originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Basque language, with "ez" meaning "no" and "partza" meaning "share" or "portion." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was not granted a share or portion of land or resources.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century in the northern regions of Spain, particularly in the provinces of Navarre and Aragon. The name is closely associated with the Basque culture and traditions of these areas.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in several historical documents, including land records and municipal archives. One notable reference is found in the "Cartulario de Santa María de Nájera," a medieval manuscript that documented transactions and events related to the monastery of Santa María de Nájera in La Rioja, Spain.

The name Ezparza gained prominence during the 15th century when Juan Ezparza, a prominent military commander, served under King Ferdinand II of Aragon. Juan Ezparza played a significant role in the Reconquista, the campaign to retake the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors.

In the 16th century, the name was associated with several notable figures, including:

1. Pedro Ezparza (1490-1560), a Spanish theologian and writer who authored several works on religious doctrine.
2. María Ezparza (1520-1585), a renowned poet and member of the literary circle in Seville.

During the 17th century, the name spread to other parts of Spain and the Spanish colonies in the Americas. One notable figure was:

1. Ignacio Ezparza (1635-1701), a Spanish explorer and navigator who led expeditions to the Caribbean and South America.

In the 18th century, the name gained further recognition with:

1. Juana Ezparza (1710-1783), a philanthropist and benefactor who funded the construction of a hospital in Madrid.
2. Tomás Ezparza (1745-1812), a military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and rose to the rank of general.

Throughout history, the surname Ezparza has been associated with various place names and older spellings, such as "Ezparzaren," "Ezpartza," and "Ezpartzen," reflecting the linguistic variations and regional dialects within Spain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Esparza

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

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

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

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