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

Malavé, 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 Malavé surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Malavé in America

Malavé is the 6434th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Malavé surname appeared 5,278 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Malavé.

We can also compare 2010 data for Malavé 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 Malavé

The surname Malave has its origins in Spain, specifically from the region of Galicia in the northwest part of the country. It is believed to have emerged during the 8th or 9th century, around the time of the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a medieval document from the 11th century, which mentions a person named Gonzalo Malave, who was a nobleman and landowner in the region of Pontevedra, Galicia. The name is thought to have derived from the Galician word "malava," which means "bad path" or "difficult road," suggesting that the original bearer of the name may have lived near a treacherous path or route.

During the Middle Ages, the Malave family played a significant role in the region, with several members holding important positions in the local government and military. One notable figure was Pedro Malave, who was a prominent knight and military commander during the Reconquista, the period when Christian kingdoms fought to reclaim territories occupied by the Moors.

As the Malave family expanded and dispersed throughout Spain, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Malabe, Malavi, and Malavé. In the 16th century, there are records of a Spanish explorer named Juan Malave, who was part of the expeditions to the Americas and is believed to have been one of the first Spaniards to set foot in what is now Puerto Rico.

Another notable individual with the Malave surname was Miguel Malave y Matos, a Spanish playwright and poet who lived in the 17th century. He was renowned for his comedic plays and satires, which often critiqued the societal norms and political climate of his time.

In the 19th century, José Malave y García was a prominent Venezuelan lawyer, politician, and writer. He played a significant role in the country's independence movement and was a staunch advocate for democratic principles and civil liberties.

Throughout history, the Malave surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, military leaders, and politicians. While its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in Galicia, Spain, the name has since spread across the globe, reflecting the diverse and rich cultural tapestry of the Spanish diaspora.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Malavé

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

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

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

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