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

Guevara, 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 Guevara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Guevara in America

Guevara is the 746th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Guevara surname appeared 46,454 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 16 people would have the surname Guevara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Guevara 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 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Guevara

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

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

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

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