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

Fontecha, 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 Fontecha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fontecha in America

Fontecha is the 109758th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fontecha surname appeared 161 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 Fontecha.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fontecha 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 Fontecha

The surname FONTECHA is of Spanish origin, originating from the regions of Castile and León in northern Spain. It is believed to have emerged sometime during the medieval period, likely between the 11th and 14th centuries.

FONTECHA is derived from the Spanish word "fuente," meaning "fountain" or "spring," combined with the diminutive suffix "-echa." This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived near or was associated with a small spring or water source.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name FONTECHA can be found in the medieval records of the Kingdom of Castile, where a nobleman named Rodrigo de Fontecha is mentioned as a participant in the Reconquista, the struggle to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Moorish rule. His birth year is estimated to be around 1190.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Juan de Fontecha served as a royal treasurer and accountant under King Juan II of Aragon. He was born in the town of Daroca, near Zaragoza, in 1412.

During the 16th century, the name FONTECHA appears in historical documents related to the Spanish colonization of the Americas. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Pedro de Fontecha, a conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico. He was born in Seville, Spain, around 1490.

Another significant individual bearing the FONTECHA surname was Antonio de Fontecha, a 17th-century Spanish writer and poet. He was born in Madrid in 1623 and is best known for his poetic works, including the collection "Rimas Castellanas."

In the 18th century, a prominent figure named Juana de Fontecha y Salazar was a Spanish noblewoman and landowner from Andalusia. She was born in Seville in 1725 and played a significant role in the local politics and social affairs of her time.

While the FONTECHA surname is primarily associated with Spain, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, its origins can be traced back to the regions of Castile and León, where it emerged as a surname derived from the local geography and landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fontecha

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

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

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

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