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

Laforteza, 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 Laforteza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Laforteza in America

Laforteza is the 81458th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Laforteza surname appeared 232 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 Laforteza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Laforteza 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 Laforteza

The surname LAFORTEZA originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Spanish phrase "la forteza," which translates to "the fortress" or "the strength." This name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or occupational surname for someone who lived near a fortified structure or was known for their physical or mental fortitude.

In the 13th century, records show variations of the name, such as "La Forteza" and "Lafortesa," appearing in various regions of Spain, particularly in Catalonia and Valencia. These early spellings reflect the regional dialects and linguistic influences of the time.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name LAFORTEZA can be found in the Libro de Repartimiento de Valencia, a record of land distribution following the Christian reconquest of Valencia in 1238. This historical document mentions individuals with the surname LAFORTEZA, indicating their presence in the region during this pivotal period.

During the 15th century, the name gained prominence in the Kingdom of Aragon, where several notable individuals bore the surname LAFORTEZA. One such figure was Juan de LAFORTEZA (1420-1489), a renowned jurist and diplomat who served as the ambassador of King Ferdinand II of Aragon to the court of Pope Sixtus IV in Rome.

Another prominent bearer of the name was María de LAFORTEZA (1472-1532), a noblewoman from Valencia who played a significant role in the cultural and intellectual life of her time. She was a patron of the arts and hosted literary salons attended by many renowned writers and intellectuals of the Renaissance era.

In the 17th century, the LAFORTEZA family established itself in the Balearic Islands, particularly in Mallorca. One notable member of this branch was Fray Bartolomé LAFORTEZA (1610-1678), a Franciscan friar and theologian who authored several influential works on religious philosophy and ethics.

Throughout the centuries, the LAFORTEZA surname has been associated with various noble families and prominent individuals across Spain. Some other notable figures include:

1. Pedro LAFORTEZA y Valenzuela (1720-1792), a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Puerto Rico from 1786 to 1789.

2. José LAFORTEZA y Ruiz (1798-1876), a Spanish politician and jurist who served as the Minister of Justice during the reign of Isabella II.

3. Margarita LAFORTEZA y Fernández (1842-1910), a Spanish writer and advocate for women's education who founded several schools and literary circles in Madrid.

4. Antonio LAFORTEZA y Serrano (1876-1944), a Spanish architect known for his contributions to the modernist architectural movement in Barcelona.

5. Jaime LAFORTEZA y Miralles (1902-1986), a Mallorcan painter and sculptor whose works are celebrated for their portrayal of traditional island life and landscapes.

While the surname LAFORTEZA has its roots in Spain, it has spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchanges, carrying with it a rich historical legacy and associations with strength, fortitude, and nobility.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Laforteza

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

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

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

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