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

Gonzalez, 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 Gonzalez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gonzalez in America

Gonzalez is the 126018th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gonzalez surname appeared 136 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 Gonzalez.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gonzalez 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 Gonzalez

The surname Gomzalez originates from Spain and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish words "goma" meaning "resin" and "halez" meaning "maker" or "worker," suggesting that the name was originally associated with individuals involved in resin-based trades or crafts.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Gomzalez can be found in historical documents from the 12th and 13th centuries, particularly in regions such as Castile and Andalusia. It is believed that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname or occupational identifier before becoming a hereditary surname.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Gomzalez was Pedro Gomzalez de Mendoza, a 13th-century Spanish nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the Reconquista, the Christian conquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. He was born in 1235 and served as the Grand Master of the Order of Santiago from 1275 until his death in 1318.

Another notable figure with the Gomzalez surname was Fernando Gomzalez de Traspinedo, a 15th-century Spanish explorer and conquistador who participated in the expeditions of Hernán Cortés to Mexico. He was born in Traspinedo, Castile, around 1480 and played a crucial role in the conquest of the Aztec Empire.

In the 16th century, Gonzalo Gomzalez de Cámara, a Spanish composer and organist, made significant contributions to the development of Renaissance music in Spain. He was born in Seville around 1520 and served as the organist at the Seville Cathedral.

During the 17th century, Juan Gomzalez de Mendoza, a Spanish painter and engraver, gained recognition for his religious and historical works. He was born in Madrid in 1630 and is known for his paintings in the Baroque style, many of which can be found in churches and museums throughout Spain.

Another notable figure with the Gomzalez surname was Tomás Gomzalez de Sepúlveda, an 18th-century Spanish architect and engineer. He was born in Madrid in 1724 and is best known for his contributions to the design and construction of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals with the Gomzalez surname who have left their mark throughout history, reflecting the rich cultural and historical significance of this Spanish surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gonzalez

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

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

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

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