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

Fontanilla, 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 Fontanilla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fontanilla in America

Fontanilla is the 19425th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fontanilla surname appeared 1,391 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 Fontanilla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fontanilla 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 Fontanilla

The surname Fontanilla originates from Spain, with roots dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to be a locational surname derived from the Spanish word "fontana," meaning a fountain or a spring. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have resided near a notable fountain or a place known for its natural springs.

During the Middle Ages, locational surnames became increasingly common as a way to distinguish individuals from different regions or villages. The suffix "-illa" was often added to Spanish place names, indicating a smaller or diminutive version of the location. Therefore, Fontanilla likely referred to a small place or hamlet near a fountain or spring.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fontanilla surname can be found in the "Catastro del Marqués de la Ensenada," a census-like record created in Spain during the mid-18th century. This document mentions several individuals with the surname Fontanilla, suggesting its widespread use by that time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Fontanilla surname was Gaspar de Fontanilla (1516-1588), a Spanish military leader who served as the Governor of the Philippines from 1584 to 1588. His tenure was marked by conflicts with the local population and the establishment of Spanish settlements in the archipelago.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Juan de Fontanilla (1560-1624), a Spanish lawyer and author who wrote extensively on legal matters and published works such as "Decisiones Sacrae Regiae Audientiae Valentinae" (Decisions of the Royal Audience of Valencia).

In the 19th century, José Fontanilla y Cuesta (1813-1885) was a Spanish politician and lawyer who served as the Minister of Justice and Grace during the reign of Queen Isabel II. He played a significant role in shaping legal reforms during his tenure.

Pedro Fontanilla y Pérez de Colosía (1877-1949) was a Spanish military officer and politician who served as the Minister of War during the reign of King Alfonso XIII. He was also a notable figure in the Spanish Civil War, initially supporting the Republican government before joining the Nationalist forces.

Lastly, Miguel Fontanilla y Pérez de Colosía (1910-1982) was a Spanish lawyer and diplomat who served as the Spanish Ambassador to the Holy See (Vatican City) from 1969 to 1976. He played a crucial role in strengthening diplomatic relations between Spain and the Vatican during his tenure.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the surname Fontanilla throughout history, showcasing its Spanish origins and presence in various fields, including military, politics, law, and diplomacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fontanilla

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

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

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

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