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

Llama, 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 Llama surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Llama in America

Llama is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Llama surname appeared 100 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 Llama.

We can also compare 2010 data for Llama 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 Llama

The surname Llama is believed to have originated in the Andean region of South America, specifically in Peru. It is thought to be derived from the Quechua word "llama," which refers to the domesticated camelid species native to the Andes mountains.

The earliest known written records of the name date back to the 16th century, around the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Some historians suggest that the name may have been adopted by indigenous Peruvians who worked with or traded in llamas, while others believe it may have been given to individuals with physical characteristics resembling the animal.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Llama surname was Juan Llama, a prominent figure in the Peruvian resistance against Spanish colonization in the late 16th century. He was born in the Andes around 1550 and is credited with organizing several uprisings against the Spanish forces.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various historical documents and records from the Viceroyalty of Peru, often associated with individuals of indigenous or mixed ancestry. One noteworthy bearer was Francisca Llama, a influential landowner and philanthropist born in Cusco in 1620.

As the centuries passed, the Llama surname spread throughout South America and eventually to other parts of the world through immigration. Some notable individuals with this surname include:

1. Pedro Llama (1790-1855), a Chilean military officer who fought in the Chilean War of Independence.
2. María Llama (1845-1923), a Peruvian writer and educator who advocated for women's rights and education.
3. José Llama (1875-1945), a Bolivian politician and diplomat who served as his country's ambassador to several nations.
4. Guillermo Llama (1910-1985), an Argentine artist known for his paintings depicting the landscapes and people of the Andes.
5. Rosalía Llama (1932-2018), a renowned Peruvian singer and composer who helped popularize traditional Andean music.

While the name Llama is primarily associated with South American countries, it has also gained a presence in other regions through migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Llama

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

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

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

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