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

Fraguela, 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 Fraguela surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fraguela in America

Fraguela is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fraguela surname appeared 101 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 Fraguela.

The history of the last name Fraguela

The surname Fraguela has its origins in the Spanish region of Galicia, where it first emerged during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Galician word "fraguar," which means "to forge." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been blacksmiths or ironworkers.

Fraguela was initially concentrated in the areas around the cities of Santiago de Compostela and Pontevedra, where metalworking was a significant industry. As early as the 13th century, records show individuals with variations of the name, such as "Ferreiro" and "Ferragudo," which also relate to the craft of metalworking.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Fraguela can be found in the Tumbo de Sobrado, a medieval cartulary from the Monastery of Sobrado dos Monxes, dated around 1300. This document mentions a certain "Pedro Fraguela" as a landowner in the region.

In the 15th century, a branch of the Fraguela family settled in the town of Ribadavia, where they became prominent winemakers and landowners. One notable member of this branch was Álvaro Fraguela, who was born in 1472 and served as a magistrate in the local court.

As the Fraguela family dispersed throughout Spain and beyond, the surname underwent various spelling variations, such as "Fraguelas," "Fraguelas," and "Fragueiro." In the 16th century, a man named Juan Fraguela was a renowned goldsmith in Seville, known for his intricate religious artifacts.

During the 17th century, a member of the Fraguela family, Diego Fraguela (1620-1692), was a prominent theologian and scholar at the University of Santiago de Compostela, where he authored several influential works on ecclesiastical law.

In the late 18th century, a Galician nobleman named Rodrigo Fraguela (1745-1823) played a significant role in the Spanish resistance against the Napoleonic invasion, organizing local militias and providing financial support to the cause.

Throughout the centuries, the Fraguela surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, politicians, and academics. One notable figure was the 20th-century Galician writer and journalist, Ramón Fraguela (1898-1976), who was an influential voice in the region's cultural renaissance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fraguela

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

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 Fraguela 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.

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

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

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