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

Fontalvo, 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 Fontalvo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fontalvo in America

Fontalvo is the 75564th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fontalvo surname appeared 255 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 Fontalvo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fontalvo 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 Fontalvo

The surname Fontalvo has its origins in Spain, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to have derived from a place name, possibly a combination of the Spanish words "fuente" meaning "fountain" and "albo" meaning "white." This suggests the name may have originated from a location near a white fountain or spring.

In the medieval period, surnames were often adopted from the names of places, estates, or geographical features associated with the family's origins. The earliest known record of the Fontalvo name appears in a document from the Kingdom of Aragon in 1185, referencing a landowner named Pedro de Fontalvo.

By the 13th century, the name had spread across various regions of Spain, with different spellings such as Fontalba, Fontalba, and Fontalbos appearing in historical records. In 1312, a nobleman named Rodrigo Fontalvo was documented as a participant in the Reconquista, the campaign to reclaim Spain from Moorish rule.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the Fontalvo surname was Juan Fontalvo, a renowned architect who lived in Seville during the late 15th century. He is credited with designing several notable buildings, including the Palacio de las Dueñas, which still stands today.

In the 16th century, the Fontalvo name gained further prominence with the exploits of Alonso Fontalvo, a Spanish explorer and conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to Mexico. Alonso Fontalvo played a significant role in the conquest of the Aztec Empire and later served as a governor in the newly established colonial territories.

Another notable figure was Catalina Fontalvo, a Spanish noblewoman born in 1520, who was known for her philanthropic efforts and patronage of the arts. She commissioned several works of art and literature, leaving a lasting cultural legacy.

As the Spanish empire expanded, the Fontalvo name traveled to various parts of the world, including the Americas. In the 18th century, Juan Manuel Fontalvo, a Spanish soldier and administrator, served as the governor of the Philippine Islands from 1758 to 1765.

Throughout its history, the Fontalvo surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, artists, military leaders, and public servants, contributing to the rich tapestry of Spanish and global history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fontalvo

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

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

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

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