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

Gradilla, 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 Gradilla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gradilla in America

Gradilla is the 38155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gradilla surname appeared 581 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 Gradilla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gradilla 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 Gradilla

The surname Gradilla is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated from the Castilian Spanish word "grada," which means "step" or "rung of a ladder." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a set of steps or a ladder-like structure.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name Gradilla was primarily concentrated in the regions of Castile and León, which were the heartlands of the Kingdom of Castile. It is likely that the earliest bearers of this surname were from these areas, where variations such as "Gradillo" and "Gradil" were also found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gradilla can be found in a document from the year 1328, which mentions a certain "Juan de Gradilla" from the village of Tordesillas, located in the present-day province of Valladolid. This indicates that the name had already established itself in the area by the early 14th century.

In the 15th century, the name Gradilla appears to have spread to other parts of Spain, particularly Andalusia and Extremadura. During this period, several individuals bearing this surname were noted for their contributions to various fields. For instance, Pedro Gradilla (1430-1498) was a renowned architect who was involved in the construction of several churches and cathedrals in Seville.

As the centuries passed, the Gradilla surname continued to be associated with notable figures. In the 17th century, Francisco Gradilla (1620-1692) was a prominent Jesuit scholar and theologian who authored several works on religious philosophy. Meanwhile, in the 18th century, María Gradilla (1745-1821) was a celebrated painter who specialized in portraiture and religious scenes.

During the 19th century, the name Gradilla gained recognition in the literary world through the work of poet and writer José Gradilla Méndez (1825-1893). His collection of poems and essays, published in 1872, was widely acclaimed for its exploration of themes related to nature and the human condition.

Another notable individual with the Gradilla surname was Antonio Gradilla Fernández (1871-1942), a Spanish military officer who served in the Spanish-American War and the Rif War in Morocco. His bravery and leadership skills earned him several decorations and honors from the Spanish government.

While the surname Gradilla has its origins in Spain, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including Latin America and regions with significant Spanish influence. However, its historical roots and earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the medieval period in the Iberian Peninsula, where it emerged as a distinctive surname reflecting the geographical and cultural landscape of the time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gradilla

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

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

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

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