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

Galarza, 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 Galarza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Galarza in America

Galarza is the 3368th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Galarza surname appeared 10,601 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Galarza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Galarza 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 Galarza

The surname GALARZA originates from the Basque region of Spain and France, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have derived from the Basque word "galartza," which translates to "oak grove" or "oak forest." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have resided in or near areas abundant with oak trees.

In the early 14th century, records from the town of Vitoria-Gasteiz in the Basque Country mention individuals with the surname GALARZA. One of the earliest known references is found in a document dated 1312, which lists a Lope de Galarza as a landowner in the region.

As the name spread throughout the Basque provinces, variations in spelling emerged, including Galartza, Galarça, and Galarsa. Some of these variations can be attributed to the adaptation of the name to different languages and dialects within the region.

One notable figure bearing the GALARZA surname was Juan de Galarza, a 16th-century Basque navigator and explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to Mexico. He played a crucial role in the conquest of the Aztec Empire and is mentioned in several historical accounts from that era.

In the 17th century, the GALARZA name appeared in records from the town of Laguardia, located in the Rioja Alavesa region of Spain. A prominent figure from this period was Pedro de Galarza (1621-1687), a Basque architect and military engineer who worked on fortifications and public buildings throughout Spain and its colonies.

Another historically significant bearer of the GALARZA surname was Miguel de Galarza (1722-1804), a Spanish naval officer and cartographer who played a crucial role in mapping the coasts of South America during the Spanish colonial era.

In the 19th century, José María Galarza (1810-1878) was a prominent Ecuadorian politician and statesman who served as President of Ecuador from 1860 to 1865. He is remembered for his efforts to modernize the country and promote economic development.

Lastly, Javier Galarza (1941-2022) was a renowned Mexican actor and director who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout his career, earning critical acclaim for his performances.

These examples illustrate the widespread presence of the GALARZA surname across different countries and historical periods, highlighting its Basque origins and the contributions of its bearers to various fields, including exploration, architecture, cartography, politics, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Galarza

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

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

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

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