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

Maldonado, 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 Maldonado surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Maldonado in America

Maldonado is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Maldonado surname appeared 102 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 Maldonado.

We can also compare 2010 data for Maldonado 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 Maldonado

The surname Maidonado is of Spanish origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period in Spain. It is believed to have originated from the Spanish word "maidana," which refers to a flat or level area of land. This suggests that the name may have been given to those who lived or worked on such lands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Maidonado can be found in the Libro de la Montería, a 14th-century hunting treatise commissioned by King Alfonso XI of Castile. This document mentions a Pedro Maidonado, who was likely a landowner or nobleman associated with the region.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the name appeared in various historical records across Spain, particularly in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura. Some notable individuals from this period include Diego Maidonado (c. 1480-1550), a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Mexico, and Juan Maidonado (c. 1520-1589), a prominent philosopher and theologian from Córdoba.

As the Spanish Empire expanded into the Americas, the surname Maidonado was carried by settlers and explorers to the New World. One such individual was Alonso Maidonado (c. 1560-1630), a Spanish navigator and explorer who is credited with the discovery of the Maidonado Islands, now known as the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia.

In the 18th century, Pedro Maidonado (1710-1789) was a renowned Spanish military engineer and cartographer, known for his work in mapping the Spanish territories in the Americas and contributing to the development of fortifications and infrastructure.

Another notable figure was José Maidonado y Navarro (1789-1844), a Spanish lawyer and politician who served as the Minister of Justice during the reign of Isabel II. He played a significant role in the development of Spain's legal system and the drafting of important legislation.

Throughout history, the surname Maidonado has been associated with various occupations, from landowners and nobles to explorers, scholars, and political figures. While the name has evolved in its spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its Spanish roots and connection to the land remain a prominent part of its historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Maldonado

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

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

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

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