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

Geronimo, 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 Geronimo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Geronimo in America

Geronimo is the 9449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Geronimo surname appeared 3,443 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Geronimo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Geronimo 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 Geronimo

The surname "GERONIMO" is believed to have originated in Spain, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Italian name "Geronimo," which itself is derived from the Greek name "Geronimos," meaning "he who holds sacred images."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "GERONIMO" can be found in the archives of the Spanish Inquisition, where it was used to identify an individual who was accused of heresy in the late 16th century. This record suggests that the name was already in use among certain Spanish families during this time period.

In the 17th century, the name "GERONIMO" began to appear in various historical documents and records throughout Spain and its colonies. For example, there are records of a Geronimo de Aguilar, a Spanish explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in the early 1500s.

Another notable individual with the surname "GERONIMO" was Geronimo Ramirez (1590-1630), a Spanish painter and engraver who was renowned for his religious artwork and illustrations. His works can be found in various churches and museums throughout Spain and Latin America.

In the 18th century, the name "GERONIMO" gained prominence in the Americas, particularly in Mexico and the southwestern United States. One of the most famous individuals with this surname was the Apache leader Geronimo (1829-1909), who led a prolonged resistance against the United States government and its efforts to subjugate the Apache people.

Another notable individual with the surname "GERONIMO" was Geronimo de Albuquerque (1539-1618), a Portuguese explorer and military leader who played a significant role in the colonization of Brazil. He was responsible for establishing several settlements in the region and defending them against indigenous attacks.

As the centuries passed, the surname "GERONIMO" continued to be used by families of Spanish and Latin American descent, with variations in spelling and pronunciation emerging in different regions. Today, it remains a prominent surname in many parts of the world, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Geronimo

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

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

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

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