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

Figaroa, 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 Figaroa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Figaroa in America

Figaroa is the 103655th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Figaroa surname appeared 173 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 Figaroa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Figaroa 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 Figaroa

The surname "FIGAROA" has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain and Portugal, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Basque or Catalan language, with possible roots in the word "figuera," meaning fig tree.

One of the earliest known records of the name "FIGAROA" can be found in a 13th-century manuscript from the Kingdom of Aragon, where it was listed as a family name in the town of Tarragona. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived near or worked with fig trees in that region.

During the 15th century, the name "FIGAROA" appeared in several records from the city of Barcelona, where it was often used to denote individuals involved in the cultivation or trade of figs. It is possible that the name was also influenced by the Catalan word "figuerola," which means a small fig tree.

In the 16th century, the "FIGAROA" name gained prominence in Portugal, particularly in the northern regions. Records from this period indicate that the surname was adopted by families involved in the production of fig-based products, such as fig jam or fig wine, which were popular exports at the time.

One notable individual bearing the "FIGAROA" surname was Pedro Figaroa (1502-1572), a renowned Portuguese winemaker known for his exceptional fig-based wines. Another prominent figure was María Figaroa (1620-1688), a Catalan botanist and author who published a seminal work on the cultivation and uses of fig trees.

In the 17th century, the name "FIGAROA" spread across the Iberian Peninsula and into other parts of Europe, carried by merchants, explorers, and settlers. Juan Figaroa (1645-1712), a Spanish navigator, is credited with mapping several islands in the Caribbean and is believed to have introduced fig trees to the region.

The 18th century saw the rise of Miguel Figaroa (1735-1802), a renowned Spanish painter whose works often depicted scenes of rural life, including the harvesting and processing of figs. His paintings provide valuable insights into the cultural significance of the fig tree during that era.

As the "FIGAROA" surname continued to spread throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was adopted by families in various parts of the world, often reflecting their connection to the cultivation or trade of figs or their appreciation for the rich cultural heritage associated with this fruit.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Figaroa

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

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

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

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