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

Luces, 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 Luces surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Luces in America

Luces is the 86981st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Luces surname appeared 214 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 Luces.

We can also compare 2010 data for Luces 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 Luces

The surname LUCES has its origins in Spain, dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "luces," meaning "lights" or "luminaries." This surname may have been given to individuals who lived near a lighthouse, worked as lampmakers, or had a connection to the production or supply of light sources.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the LUCES surname can be found in the archives of the city of Seville, Spain, where a family by the name of Luces resided in the late 1400s. Records indicate that they were involved in the trade of candles and oil lamps, which were crucial sources of light during that era.

In the 16th century, the LUCES surname appears in several historical documents from the region of Andalusia, particularly in the cities of Cadiz and Malaga. These references suggest that the name was prominent among families engaged in maritime activities, possibly as lighthouse keepers or navigators.

During the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the LUCES surname was Juan de Luces (1590-1647), a Spanish painter known for his religious works and commissioned by several churches in Seville and Cadiz. His paintings can still be found in several historical churches and museums in southern Spain.

Another significant individual with the LUCES surname was Diego Luces (1712-1786), a renowned Spanish architect who designed several iconic buildings in Madrid, including the Royal Palace of Aranjuez and the Church of San Luis Obispo.

In the 19th century, the LUCES surname gained prominence in Latin American countries, particularly in Mexico and Argentina, where several families of Spanish descent settled and established themselves. One notable figure from this period was María Luces de Arboleda (1820-1896), a Colombian poet and writer who played a significant role in the literary movement of Romanticism in her country.

Throughout history, the LUCES surname has been associated with various professions and occupations related to light sources, such as lampmakers, chandlers, and lighthouse keepers. It has also been linked to individuals involved in the arts, architecture, and literature, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Luces

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

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

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

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