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

Gortarez, 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 Gortarez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gortarez in America

Gortarez is the 83834th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gortarez surname appeared 224 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 Gortarez.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gortarez 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 Gortarez

The surname Gortarez is of Spanish origin, emerging in the late 15th century from the northern regions of Spain, particularly the Basque Country and the province of Navarre. It is believed to be derived from the Basque words "gorta" meaning "hunger" and "rez" meaning "of" or "belonging to," potentially referencing a period of famine or scarcity in the region.

One of the earliest known records of the name Gortarez can be found in a manuscript from the Archivo General de Navarra, dated 1492, which mentions a certain Juan Gortarez as a landowner in the village of Garralda. This suggests that the name was already established in the area at that time.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Gortarez family seemed to have gained prominence in the region, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such person was Pedro Gortarez (1554-1619), a renowned architect who contributed to the design and construction of several churches and monasteries in the Basque Country.

Another notable figure was Catalina Gortarez (1632-1701), a celebrated author and poet whose works were widely read and celebrated during the Spanish Golden Age. Her poetry often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, earning her recognition among the literary circles of her time.

In the 18th century, the name Gortarez appeared in historical records related to the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Manuel Gortarez (1718-1792) was a Spanish military officer who served in the Spanish Royal Army and participated in the conquest and settlement of parts of present-day Mexico and the southwestern United States.

As the name spread beyond its original region, it underwent some variations in spelling, such as Gortariz, Gortaritz, and Gortarres. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and regional pronunciations.

One notable figure from the 19th century was Ignacio Gortarez (1844-1912), a prominent businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of industry and infrastructure in the Basque Country. His legacy includes the establishment of several schools and hospitals in the region.

Throughout history, the surname Gortarez has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, military personnel, and entrepreneurs, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and diverse contributions of those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gortarez

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

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

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

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