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

González, 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 González surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of González in America

González is the 75317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The González surname appeared 256 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 González.

We can also compare 2010 data for González 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 González

The surname GONZALEZ has its origins in medieval Spain, tracing back to the Iberian Peninsula during the 8th to 12th centuries. It is derived from the personal name "Gonzalo," which itself comes from the ancient Germanic name "Gundisalvus," meaning "battle-walker" or "war-walker." The earliest recorded mention of GONZALEZ appears in the Codex Calixtinus, a 12th-century manuscript detailing the history of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route.

One of the earliest documented bearers of the GONZALEZ name was Pedro Gonzalez de Lara (c. 1190-1231), a Spanish nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. He was known for his victories against the Almohads during the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212.

Another notable figure with the GONZALEZ surname was Fernán González (c. 910-970), a Castilian count who is celebrated as the first independent ruler of Castile. He successfully fought against the Caliphate of Córdoba, establishing Castile as a sovereign Christian kingdom within the Iberian Peninsula.

During the 16th century, the GONZALEZ name gained prominence in the Americas as Spanish conquistadors and settlers brought their surnames to the New World. One such individual was Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada (c. 1495-1579), a Spanish explorer and conquistador who led the Spanish conquest of the Muisca Confederation, establishing the city of Santa Fe de Bogotá, now the capital of Colombia.

In the realm of literature, Tomás González (c. 1500-1570), a Spanish playwright and poet, is considered one of the most important figures of the Spanish Renaissance. His works, such as "Nise lastimosa" and "Nise laureada," were influential in the development of Spanish theater.

Throughout history, the GONZALEZ surname has been borne by numerous notable individuals across various fields, from politics and military to arts and sciences. Its origins can be traced back to the turbulent times of the Reconquista and the subsequent Spanish exploration and colonization of the Americas, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Iberian Peninsula.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name González

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

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

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

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