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

García-Ayala, 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 García-Ayala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of García-Ayala in America

García-Ayala is the 119508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The García-Ayala surname appeared 145 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 García-Ayala.

The history of the last name García-Ayala

The surname GARCIAAYALA is a double-barreled Spanish surname that originated in the regions of Castile and Andalusia on the Iberian Peninsula. It combines the patronymic Garcia, derived from the medieval Spanish personal name Garci, itself a contraction of the Gothic name Gardingus, meaning "spear bearer" or "bright spearman," with the place name Ayala, referring to a municipality in the Basque province of Alava.

The earliest recorded instances of the GARCIAAYALA surname date back to the 12th century, with references found in medieval Spanish manuscripts and charters. One notable example is the mention of Don Vela Garcia de Ayala, a prominent nobleman and military leader who fought in the Reconquista against the Moors during the reign of Alfonso VIII of Castile in the late 12th and early 13th centuries.

In the 14th century, the GARCIAAYALA family rose to prominence as one of the most influential noble houses in Castile. Pedro Garcia de Ayala (c. 1332-1407), a distinguished statesman, chronicler, and diplomat, served as Chancellor of Castile under King Henry III and authored the influential "Crónica del Rey Don Pedro" and "Crónica del Rey Don Enrique Segundo."

Another prominent figure bearing the GARCIAAYALA surname was Fernán Pérez de Ayala (c. 1350-1407), a celebrated poet and author who is considered one of the precursors of the Spanish Renaissance literary movement. His works, including the satirical "Libro de la Vida" and the allegorical "Rimado de Palacio," are regarded as masterpieces of medieval Spanish literature.

During the 16th century, the GARCIAAYALA family continued to play a significant role in Spanish history. Pedro de Ayala (c. 1510-1584), a renowned diplomat and military commander, served as the Spanish ambassador to the Holy Roman Empire and participated in the Battle of St. Quentin during the Italian War of 1551-1559.

In the 18th century, Juan de Ayala (1745-1797), a Spanish naval officer and explorer, became the first European to explore and map the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Northwest coast of what is now British Columbia and Washington State.

While the GARCIAAYALA surname has its roots in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly Latin America, due to Spanish colonization and migration. The name has been associated with notable individuals in diverse fields, reflecting its rich historical and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name García-Ayala

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname García-Ayala.

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 García-Ayala 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 García-Ayala was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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