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

Mahecha, 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 Mahecha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mahecha in America

Mahecha is the 69793rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mahecha surname appeared 281 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 Mahecha.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mahecha 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 Mahecha

The surname Mahecha is believed to have originated in Colombia, with its roots tracing back to the early 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the indigenous Muisca language, which was spoken by the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense region in central Colombia.

One theory suggests that the name Mahecha is related to the Muisca word "mahecha," which means "cultivator" or "farmer." This connection implies that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who worked in agriculture or farmed the fertile lands of the region.

Early records of the surname Mahecha can be found in historical documents from the Spanish colonial era in Colombia. Some of the earliest mentions date back to the 17th century, when Spanish conquistadors and settlers began to interact and intermingle with the indigenous Muisca population.

In the late 16th century, a prominent figure named Juan Mahecha emerged as a leader of the Muisca resistance against the Spanish colonizers. He played a significant role in organizing uprisings and defending the indigenous communities during the tumultuous period of conquest and colonization.

Another notable individual with the surname Mahecha was Pedro Mahecha, a renowned architect and builder who lived in the 18th century. He is credited with the construction of several notable churches and buildings in the central regions of Colombia, many of which still stand today as magnificent examples of colonial architecture.

During the 19th century, the Mahecha family gained prominence in the political and intellectual spheres of Colombia. José María Mahecha (1785-1873) was a renowned lawyer, politician, and writer who played a pivotal role in shaping the nation's legal and political landscape.

In more recent times, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Mahecha is Gustavo Mahecha (1942-2017), a renowned Colombian journalist and writer. He was widely recognized for his investigative journalism and critical analysis of social and political issues in Colombia.

The Mahecha surname has also been associated with various place names and locations within Colombia, particularly in regions where the Muisca people once inhabited. These include towns and villages such as Mahecha, Nemocón, and Zipaquirá, among others.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mahecha

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

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

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

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