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 55255th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gonzalez surname appeared 372 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 Gonzelez is of Spanish origin, deriving from the personal name Gonzalo, which is a Spanish form of the Germanic name Gundisalvus. Gundisalvus is composed of the elements "gund" meaning "battle" and "salv" meaning "protection." The earliest recorded instances of the surname Gonzelez can be traced back to the 12th century in Spain.

In the 13th century, the name Gonzelez appeared in several Spanish documents, including the Cartulario de la Catedral de Oviedo, which contains records of the Diocese of Oviedo in the northern region of Asturias. This suggests that the name was prevalent in this area during that time period.

The surname Gonzelez underwent various spelling variations throughout history, such as Gonzalez, Gonsalvus, and Gundisalvi. Some of these variations were influenced by regional dialects and localized pronunciations.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Gonzelez was Pedro Gonzelez de Mendoza (1428-1495), a prominent Spanish cardinal and statesman during the reign of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. He played a crucial role in the Spanish Inquisition and the expulsion of Jews from Spain.

Another significant individual was Fernán Gonzelez (c. 910-970), a medieval Spanish nobleman who served as the first independent Count of Castile. He is celebrated as one of the heroes of the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors.

In the realm of literature, the Spanish writer and poet, Juan Gonzelez de Mendoza (1545-1623), made significant contributions to the development of Spanish drama and poetry during the Golden Age of Spanish literature.

The name Gonzelez can also be found in historical records from Portugal, where it is sometimes spelled as Gonçalves. One notable figure was Nuno Gonçalves (c. 1450-1491), a renowned Portuguese painter best known for his altarpiece "The Panels of St. Vincent."

In the New World, the surname Gonzelez gained prominence through individuals like Pedro de Alvarado y Gonzelez (c. 1485-1541), a Spanish conquistador who played a crucial role in the Spanish conquest of Mexico and Central America under the leadership of Hernán Cortés.

While the surname Gonzelez has its roots in Spain and Portugal, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, it remains deeply rooted in its Spanish and Portuguese heritage, reflecting the rich history and cultural influences that have shaped its evolution over the centuries.

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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