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

Lacayo, 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 Lacayo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lacayo in America

Lacayo is the 13267th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lacayo surname appeared 2,299 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Lacayo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lacayo 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 Lacayo

The surname Lacayo is of Spanish origin, deriving from the Spanish word "lacayo," which means "lackey" or "footman." This name has its roots in medieval Spain, where it was initially used as an occupational surname for those who served as attendants or footmen to nobility or people of high social standing.

The earliest recorded instances of the Lacayo surname can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries in various regions of Spain, particularly in Aragon, Catalonia, and Castile. It is believed that the name may have originated from the Basque word "lacai," which means "servant" or "attendant," further reinforcing its occupational origins.

One of the earliest documented references to the Lacayo name appears in the "Libro de la Montería" (Book of the Hunt), a 14th-century manuscript commissioned by King Alfonso XI of Castile, which mentions individuals with this surname serving as huntsmen or attendants to the royal court.

Notable individuals with the Lacayo surname throughout history include Juan Lacayo (1460-1525), a Spanish soldier and explorer who participated in the conquest of the Americas under Hernán Cortés. Another prominent figure was Catalina Lacayo (1525-1590), a Spanish noblewoman and landowner in the region of Extremadura.

In the 16th century, the Lacayo surname also gained prominence in Mexico, where Juan Lacayo (1540-1610) was a prominent landowner and rancher in the state of Nuevo León. His descendant, Pedro Lacayo (1590-1665), was a respected military commander and played a significant role in the defense of the region against indigenous uprisings.

During the 17th century, the Lacayo surname appeared in various historical records and documents across Spain and its colonies, including the "Libro de Privilegios" (Book of Privileges) of the city of Seville, which mentions several individuals with this name holding positions of authority and influence.

Another noteworthy individual was Tomás Lacayo (1680-1755), a Spanish-born missionary priest who traveled to the Philippines and made significant contributions to the evangelization efforts in the region. His contemporary, Isabel Lacayo (1695-1770), was a renowned poet and writer from Andalusia, whose works were widely acclaimed during her lifetime.

Throughout the centuries, the Lacayo surname has maintained its presence in various Spanish-speaking countries, with notable individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields, including literature, arts, politics, and military service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lacayo

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

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

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

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