2000
#10,155
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,917
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.08
Rare Last name
Galdamez
A Spanish surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name or a nickname for a boastful person.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,969 Americans carry the last name Galdamez. That puts it at #5,529 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 49,183 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Galdamez surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
7.0K
1 in 49,183
Census rank
#5,529
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,077 bearers of the surname Galdamez in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5529th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Galdamez, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.8%. The next largest groups are White (3.2%) and Black (0.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Galdamez
The surname Galdamez originates from Spain and is believed to have emerged during the 15th century. It is thought to be derived from the Spanish words "galdo" and "mez," which translate to "blond" and "son," respectively. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone with fair hair.
Galdamez is predominantly found in regions of Spain, such as Andalusia and Extremadura, where it is believed to have first appeared. However, it is also present in other Spanish-speaking countries, including Guatemala and Mexico, likely due to the spread of Spanish colonization and migration.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Galdamez can be found in the archives of the town of Lebrija, located in the province of Seville, Spain. These archives date back to the 16th century and contain records of individuals bearing this surname.
In the 17th century, a prominent figure named Juan Galdamez was a renowned painter and sculptor from Seville, Spain. His works can still be found in various churches and museums throughout Andalusia.
During the 18th century, a notable individual named María Galdamez played a significant role in the Spanish colonization of Guatemala. She was one of the first Spanish settlers in the region and helped establish the town of Quetzaltenango.
In the 19th century, a prominent historian and writer named Francisco Galdamez authored several books on the history and culture of Guatemala. His works are considered invaluable resources for understanding the country's rich heritage.
Another noteworthy individual with the surname Galdamez was José Galdamez, a Mexican revolutionary who fought alongside Emiliano Zapata during the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. He was known for his bravery and dedication to the cause of agrarian reform.
While the surname Galdamez has its roots in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly in Latin America, where it continues to be carried by individuals with Spanish ancestry.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Galdamez
Among Census respondents with the surname Galdamez, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.8%. The next largest groups are White (3.2%) and Black (0.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Galdamez bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Galdamez surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino95.8% · 5,820
- White3.2% · 196
- Black or African American0.5% · 30
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 15
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.2% · 12
- Two or more races0.1% · 4
Timeline
Historical Census data for Galdamez
Galdamez appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#6,303
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 5,419
+2,502 bearers (+85.8%)
Per 100,000 1.84
Rank movement Up 3,852 places
2020
#5,529
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,077
+658 bearers (+12.1%)
Per 100,000 2.03
Rank movement Up 774 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #10,155 | 2,917 | 1.08 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #6,303 | 5,419 | 1.84 | +2,502 bearers (+85.8%) | Up 3,852 places |
| 2020 | #5,529 | 6,077 | 2.03 | +658 bearers (+12.1%) | Up 774 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Galdamez surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,303 | #5,529 | 12.3% |
| Count | 5,419 | 6,077 | 12.1% |
| Per 100K | 1.84 | 2.03 | 10.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Galdamez bearers went from 5,419 to 6,077 (+12.1% change). The surname moved up 774 positions in the national ranking, going from #6,303 to #5,529.
FAQ
Galdamez surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Galdamez?
Name Census estimates that about 6,969 living Americans carry the surname Galdamez. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 49,183 residents.
How common is Galdamez?
Galdamez ranks #5,529 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 2.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 6,077 people with the surname Galdamez. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (6,969), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 2.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 2.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Galdamez.
Has Galdamez become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Galdamez went from 5,419 recorded bearers to 6,077. That is an increase of 658 (+12.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #6,303 to #5,529.
What does the Census say about the background of Galdamez?
Among Census respondents with the surname Galdamez, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.8%. The next largest groups are White (3.2%) and Black (0.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Galdamez in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.8% (5,820 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Galdamez appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (95.8%), White (3.2%), Black (0.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Galdamez (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Galdamez mean?
A Spanish surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name or a nickname for a boastful person. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Galdamez (2.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Galdamez?
See how many Americans have the surname Galdamez on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.