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

Gavilanes, 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 Gavilanes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gavilanes in America

Gavilanes is the 25314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gavilanes surname appeared 978 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 Gavilanes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gavilanes 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 Gavilanes

The surname Gavilanes has its origins in Spain, tracing back to the medieval period. It derives from the Spanish word "gavilán," which means "sparrowhawk." This suggests that the name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who bore a resemblance to the bird or possessed qualities associated with it, such as keen eyesight or a predatory nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gavilanes surname can be found in the Becerro de Behetrías, a medieval census conducted in the 13th century. This document mentions individuals bearing the name, indicating its presence in Spain during that era.

The name Gavilanes has been linked to several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was Pedro Gavilanes, a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century. Another was Juan Gavilanes, a 16th-century Spanish navigator and explorer who participated in expeditions to the Americas.

In the realm of literature, the surname Gavilanes appears in the works of Miguel de Cervantes, the renowned author of Don Quixote. Cervantes mentions a character named Gavilanes in his novel "El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha," published in the early 17th century.

The Gavilanes surname has also been associated with various place names in Spain, such as the town of Gavilanes in the province of Ávila. This suggests that some individuals may have adopted the name based on their geographic origin or association with a particular location.

Other notable individuals bearing the Gavilanes surname include Francisco Gavilanes, a 17th-century Spanish painter known for his religious works, and José Gavilanes, a 19th-century Spanish military officer who fought in the Carlist Wars.

While the surname Gavilanes is primarily found in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. The name's enduring presence serves as a testament to its rich historical roots and the diverse narratives woven into its origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gavilanes

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

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

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

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