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

Gordillo, 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 Gordillo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gordillo in America

Gordillo is the 7232nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gordillo surname appeared 4,616 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Gordillo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gordillo 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 Gordillo

The surname Gordillo originates from Spain, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 11th century. The name is derived from the Spanish word "gordo," meaning "fat" or "thick," and the diminutive suffix "-illo," suggesting a small or diminutive form. This combination likely referred to a physical characteristic of an early bearer of the name.

During the Reconquista period in Spain, the surname Gordillo began appearing in various regions, particularly in Andalusia and Extremadura. It was documented in medieval records, such as the Cartularios de Valpuesta and the Becerro de las Behetrías de Castilla, indicating its widespread usage among Spanish families.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Gordillo surname was Rodrigo Gordillo, a nobleman from Seville who lived in the 13th century. He served as an adviser to King Alfonso X and was mentioned in the king's chronicles for his contributions to the court.

Another notable figure was Juan Gordillo, a 15th-century explorer and navigator from Seville. He accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493 and is credited with being one of the first Europeans to set foot on the island of Puerto Rico.

In the 16th century, the Gordillo surname was associated with the Spanish conquest of the Americas. Pedro Gordillo, born in 1502 in Seville, was a conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru under Francisco Pizarro. He later became a prominent landowner and colonial administrator in the Viceroyalty of Peru.

During the 17th century, the Gordillo family established itself in various regions of Spain, including Castile and Aragon. One prominent member was Diego Gordillo, a Jesuit priest and scholar born in 1605 in Córdoba. He was renowned for his contributions to theology and philosophy, and his works were widely studied in academic circles.

In the 18th century, José Gordillo y Navarro, born in 1736 in Cádiz, achieved fame as a painter and engraver. He was renowned for his religious and historical paintings, many of which can be found in churches and museums across Spain.

As the Spanish Empire expanded, the Gordillo surname spread to Spanish territories in the Americas, particularly in Mexico, Peru, and Argentina. Over the centuries, individuals bearing this surname have made notable contributions in various fields, including literature, art, and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gordillo

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

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

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

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