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

Gobea, 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 Gobea surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gobea in America

Gobea is the 55841st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gobea surname appeared 367 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 Gobea.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gobea 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 Gobea

The surname GOBEA is of Spanish origin, with roots tracing back to the late 15th century. It is believed to have originated in the Basque region of northern Spain, where the name was derived from the Basque word "gobia," meaning "roof" or "shelter." This suggests that the name may have been associated with a profession or occupation related to building or carpentry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GOBEA surname can be found in a manuscript from the town of Guernica, which dates back to 1492. This document mentions a family named GOBEA residing in the area, indicating that the name had already established itself in the region by that time.

During the 16th century, the GOBEA surname began to spread beyond the Basque region and into other parts of Spain. Historical records from this period mention several individuals bearing the name, including Juan GOBEA, a merchant from Seville who was born in 1523 and played a significant role in the city's trade with the Americas.

In the 17th century, the GOBEA name gained further prominence with the birth of Miguel GOBEA (1611-1685), a renowned Spanish painter and sculptor who was commissioned to create numerous works for churches and noble households throughout Spain and Italy.

As the name continued to spread, it eventually made its way to the Americas during the colonial era. One notable figure was Juana GOBEA (1745-1822), a Spanish settler who established a successful farming community in what is now Argentina.

Another prominent individual with the GOBEA surname was Antonio GOBEA (1788-1861), a Spanish military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later served as a governor in several Spanish colonies in the Caribbean.

Throughout the 19th century, the GOBEA name continued to be found in various parts of Spain and Spanish-speaking regions of the Americas. Some examples include the writer and poet Emilia GOBEA (1823-1892), who gained recognition for her literary works in Mexico, and Manuel GOBEA (1851-1918), a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Catalonia, Spain.

While the GOBEA surname has remained relatively uncommon compared to some other Spanish names, it has left a lasting mark on history, with individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields, including the arts, military, literature, and business.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gobea

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

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

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

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