Guevara
A Basque occupational surname referring to an arms manufacturer or supplier, derived from "gebar" meaning "arms" or "weapons."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 53,984 Americans carry the last name Guevara. That puts it at #746 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 15.75 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 6,349 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Guevara surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
54K
1 in 6,349
Census rank
#746
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
15.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
46K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 46,454 bearers of the surname Guevara in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 15.75 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 746th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Guevara, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 91.9%. The next largest groups are White (4.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Guevara
The surname Guevara has its origins in the Basque region of northern Spain and southwestern France. It is believed to have derived from the Basque word "gebara," which means "hawk" or "falcon." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person who worked with these birds, possibly in falconry.
The earliest recorded instances of the Guevara surname can be traced back to the 9th century in the region of Álava, Spain. During this time, the name appeared in various medieval documents and manuscripts, often associated with prominent noble families and landowners.
One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the Guevara name was Iñigo Beltrán de Guevara, a nobleman who lived in the 11th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of the Kingdom of Navarre and played a significant role in the region's political and military affairs.
The Guevara family gained further prominence in the 13th century when they acquired the Lordship of Oñate, a territory located in the province of Gipuzkoa, Spain. This event solidified their status as a powerful noble family in the region.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals with the Guevara surname have left their mark on history. One such figure was Íñigo de Guevara (1412-1497), a Spanish writer and diplomat who served as a courtier to King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile.
Another prominent Guevara was Rodrigo de Guevara (1480-1540), a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés. He played a crucial role in several important battles and was later appointed as the governor of Nueva Galicia, a territory in present-day western Mexico.
In the 20th century, the name Guevara gained international recognition due to Ernesto "Che" Guevara (1928-1967), the renowned Marxist revolutionary and guerrilla leader. He played a pivotal role in the Cuban Revolution and became an iconic figure in the global struggle against imperialism and capitalism.
Other notable individuals with the Guevara surname include Juan de Guevara (1524-1600), a Spanish writer and diplomat, and Antonio de Guevara (1480-1545), a Spanish chronicler and moralist who served as a chaplain to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.
The Guevara surname has been present in various regions of Spain and Latin America throughout history, reflecting the migration and influence of the Basque people over time. While its popularity may have fluctuated, the name continues to carry a rich heritage and cultural significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Guevara
Among Census respondents with the surname Guevara, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 91.9%. The next largest groups are White (4.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Guevara bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Guevara surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino91.9%
- White4.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.7%
- Black or African American0.5%
- Two or more races0.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Guevara surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,039 | #746 | 28.2% |
| Count | 30,844 | 46,454 | 50.6% |
| Per 100K | 11.43 | 15.75 | 37.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Guevara bearers went from 30,844 to 46,454 (+50.6% change). The surname moved up 293 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,039 to #746.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Guevara
FAQ
Guevara surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Guevara?
The surname Guevara holds position #746 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 53,984 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 15.75 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Guevara surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Guevara, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 91.9%. The next largest groups are White (4.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.