2010
#153,769
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Faxas
An old Portuguese surname thought to be of noble descent or referring to a place name.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 134 Americans carry the last name Faxas. That puts it at #144,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,557,868 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Faxas 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
134
1 in 2,557,868
Census rank
#144,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
117
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 117 bearers of the surname Faxas in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 144270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Faxas, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.0%. The next largest groups are White (8.5%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Faxas
The surname Faxas is believed to have originated in the region of Galicia, located in the northwestern corner of Spain. Its roots can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 9th or 10th century AD. The name likely derived from the Latin word "faxius," which means "bundle" or "bundle of wood," suggesting that the original bearers of this surname may have been involved in forestry or woodcutting activities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Faxas surname appears in a medieval Galician manuscript dated to the 12th century. This document mentions a landowner named Rodrigo Faxas, who owned a substantial tract of land in the province of Pontevedra. It is believed that this individual may have been a descendant of the original Faxas family, further solidifying the name's connection to the Galician region.
During the 13th century, the Faxas surname gained prominence when a prominent figure named Diego Faxas served as a trusted advisor to King Alfonso X of Castile and León. Diego Faxas is credited with playing a significant role in the compilation of the renowned legal code known as the "Siete Partidas," which became a cornerstone of Spanish law.
In the 15th century, another notable individual named Juan Faxas was recognized as a skilled navigator and explorer. He accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493 and is believed to have contributed to the mapping and charting of the newly discovered lands.
The Faxas surname also has a connection to the town of Faxas, located in the municipality of Vilamartín de Valdeorras, in the province of Ourense, Galicia. This small village likely derived its name from the Faxas family, who may have been among the original settlers or landowners in the area.
Throughout history, several other individuals bearing the Faxas surname have made notable contributions in various fields. For example, Pedro Faxas (1543-1613) was a renowned Spanish architect who designed several significant buildings, including the Monastery of San Martín Pinario in Santiago de Compostela. Antonia Faxas (1624-1699) was a celebrated painter during the Baroque period, known for her religious-themed works that adorned numerous churches across Galicia.
While the Faxas surname may not be as widely recognized as some other Spanish surnames, its rich history and deep roots in the Galician region have contributed to the cultural tapestry of Spain. The name stands as a testament to the diverse origins and narratives that have shaped the country's heritage over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Faxas
Among Census respondents with the surname Faxas, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.0%. The next largest groups are White (8.5%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Faxas 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 Faxas surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino88.0% · 103
- White8.5% · 10
- Two or more races2.6% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Faxas
Faxas appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#144,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
+11 bearers (+10.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 9,499 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #153,769 | 106 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #144,270 | 117 | 0.04 | +11 bearers (+10.4%) | Up 9,499 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 Faxas 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 | #153,769 | #144,270 | 6.2% |
| Count | 106 | 117 | 10.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -2.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Faxas bearers went from 106 to 117 (+10.4% change). The surname moved up 9,499 positions in the national ranking, going from #153,769 to #144,270.
FAQ
Faxas surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Faxas?
Name Census estimates that about 134 living Americans carry the surname Faxas. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,557,868 residents.
How common is Faxas?
Faxas ranks #144,270 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 117 people with the surname Faxas. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (134), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Faxas.
Has Faxas become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Faxas went from 106 recorded bearers to 117. That is an increase of 11 (+10.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #153,769 to #144,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Faxas?
Among Census respondents with the surname Faxas, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.0%. The next largest groups are White (8.5%) and Two or More Races (2.6%). 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 Faxas in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.0% (103 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Faxas appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (88.0%), White (8.5%), Two or More Races (2.6%). 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 Faxas (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 Faxas mean?
An old Portuguese surname thought to be of noble descent or referring to a place name. 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 Faxas (0.04 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 last name Faxas?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the last name Faxas on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.