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

Figueroa, 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 Figueroa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Figueroa in America

Figueroa is the 316th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Figueroa surname appeared 98,468 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 33 people would have the surname Figueroa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Figueroa 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 Figueroa

The surname Figueroa originated in Spain. It is derived from the Spanish words "higuera" meaning fig tree and "roa" meaning a shaded area or grove. The name likely emerged during the medieval period in regions where fig trees were cultivated.

The earliest recorded instances of the Figueroa surname can be traced back to the 12th century in the Kingdom of Castile. It is believed to have originated in the province of Extremadura, which borders Portugal. The name may have referred to individuals who lived near or worked in fig groves.

In the 13th century, the Figueroa family rose to prominence, with several members becoming influential nobles and military leaders. One notable figure was Lope Sanchez de Figueroa, a knight who fought in the Reconquista campaigns against the Moors. He was granted lands and titles for his valor in battle.

During the 15th century, the Figueroa name appeared in several historical records, including the archives of the Spanish monarchy. Gómez Suárez de Figueroa (1380-1429) was a prominent diplomat and ambassador who served under King Juan II of Castile.

As the Spanish Empire expanded in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Figueroa name was carried to the Americas by explorers, conquistadors, and settlers. Juan Rodríguez de Figueroa (1510-1565) was a Spanish conquistador who played a significant role in the conquest of Chile.

Other notable individuals with the Figueroa surname include Francisco de Figueroa (1536-1617), a Spanish poet and playwright during the Golden Age of Spanish literature. Cristóbal Suárez de Figueroa (1571-1644) was a Spanish writer and diplomat known for his satirical works.

The Figueroa name has been associated with various places and geographical features throughout Spain and Latin America, such as the town of Figueroa in Andalusia and the Figueroa Mountain in California, named after José Francisco de Figueroa, the last Spanish governor of Alta California.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Figueroa

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

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

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

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