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 44957th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Figueroa surname appeared 477 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 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 Fiqueroa originates from Spain, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Spanish word "higuera," which means "fig tree," suggesting that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived near or owned land with fig trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fiqueroa can be found in the archives of the Kingdom of Aragon, where it appears in a document from the 13th century. This document mentions a landowner named Pedro Fiqueroa, who held properties in the region of Valencia.

During the 15th century, the Fiqueroa family gained prominence in the city of Seville, where they were involved in trade and held influential positions within the local government. One notable member of this family was Rodrigo Fiqueroa, a successful merchant who lived from 1430 to 1498.

As the Spanish empire expanded across the Americas, the Fiqueroa name traveled with the conquistadors and settlers. In the 16th century, a soldier named Juan Fiqueroa accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to conquer Mexico. Juan Fiqueroa later received land grants in the region of Veracruz, where he established a family lineage.

The Fiqueroa surname also found its way to the Philippines during the Spanish colonization of the archipelago. In the 17th century, a Jesuit priest named Ignacio Fiqueroa played a significant role in the establishment of Catholic missions in the Philippine islands.

Another notable figure bearing the Fiqueroa name was Diego Fiqueroa, a renowned painter from the 18th century who specialized in religious art and portraiture. His works can be found in various churches and museums across Spain.

Throughout history, the surname Fiqueroa has been subject to various spelling variations, such as Figueroa, Figuero, and Higuera, reflecting the influence of regional dialects and linguistic changes over time. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its connection to its Spanish origins and the symbolic association with fig trees.

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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