Gazca last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Gazca

A Spanish toponymic surname referring to someone from Gajates or Gazaca.

Gazca, 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 Gazca surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gazca in America

Gazca is the 59742nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gazca surname appeared 338 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 Gazca.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gazca 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 59742 70679 -16.77%
Count 338 258 26.85%
Proportion per 100k 0.11 0.10 9.52%

The history of the last name Gazca

The surname GAZCA has its origins in Spain, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "gaceta," which referred to a small coin or a type of newspaper. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with a occupation or trade involving currency or news dissemination.

One of the earliest documented references to the GAZCA surname can be found in the archives of the city of Seville, where a certain Juan GAZCA is mentioned as a merchant in the year 1492. This coincides with the period when Spain was expanding its trade networks and exploring new territories, which could explain the potential link between the name and commerce or travel.

In the 16th century, the GAZCA family seems to have spread to other regions of Spain, as evidenced by records from the city of Valladolid, where a noble family bearing this surname owned vast landholdings. The town of Gazcuemil, located in the province of Cuenca, is also believed to have been named after a prominent GAZCA lineage that settled in the area during this time.

During the Golden Age of Spanish literature, a poet and playwright named Pedro GAZCA de Ursino (1535-1601) gained recognition for his works, which included religious plays and pastoral poetry. His contributions to the cultural landscape of Spain further cemented the presence of the GAZCA name in historical records.

In the 18th century, a military officer named Miguel GAZCA y Segura (1712-1789) achieved notable distinction for his service in the Spanish Army during the War of the Spanish Succession. He was awarded various honors and titles for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

As the Spanish Empire expanded across the Americas, the GAZCA surname also found its way to the New World. One prominent figure was Juana GAZCA de Mendoza (1561-1628), a noblewoman who played a significant role in the colonization of Peru and the establishment of the city of Arequipa.

Throughout its history, the GAZCA surname has been associated with various professions, from merchants and landowners to poets and military leaders. While its exact origins remain somewhat uncertain, the name has left an indelible mark on the historical records of Spain and its former territories, reflecting the diverse cultural and societal influences that shaped its evolution over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gazca

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

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 Gazca was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin 99.11% 335

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 Gazca has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White (S)% 3.10% (S)%
Black (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Hispanic 99.11% 96.90% 2.25%

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Gazca last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/gazca-surname-popularity/.

"Gazca last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/gazca-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Gazca last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/gazca-surname-popularity/.

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