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

Manchego, 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 Manchego surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Manchego in America

Manchego is the 52851st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Manchego surname appeared 392 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 Manchego.

We can also compare 2010 data for Manchego 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 Manchego

The surname Manchego has its origins in Spain, specifically from the region of La Mancha. The name is derived from the Spanish word "mancha," which means "spot" or "stain." It is believed that the name was initially given to individuals who lived in or were associated with the geographical area known as La Mancha.

La Mancha is a historical region located in the central part of Spain, encompassing parts of the provinces of Ciudad Real, Cuenca, and Albacete. The name "La Mancha" is thought to have originated from the Arabic word "mansha," meaning "dry land" or "uncultivated area," reflecting the region's arid and barren landscape.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Manchego can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Pedro Manchego, a nobleman who lived in the village of Tomelloso, Ciudad Real, during the 14th century.

In the 15th century, the surname Manchego appeared in various historical records and documents, such as the "Libro del Repartimiento de Sevilla," a record of the distribution of land and properties in Seville after the Reconquista. One notable figure from this period was Juan Manchego, a soldier and explorer who participated in the conquest of the Canary Islands in the late 15th century.

During the 16th century, the surname Manchego gained prominence in the literary world. Miguel de Cervantes, the renowned author of "Don Quixote," featured characters with the surname Manchego in his iconic novel, which is set in the region of La Mancha. One of the most famous individuals with this surname was Tomás Manchego (1540-1612), a Catholic priest and theologian who served as a professor at the University of Salamanca.

In the 17th century, the Manchego family played a significant role in the colonization of the Americas. Francisco Manchego (1602-1678) was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who led expeditions to the Caribbean and Central America, establishing settlements and contributing to the expansion of the Spanish Empire.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname Manchego continued to be present in various fields, including politics, arts, and literature. Notable figures include María Manchego (1752-1829), a Spanish painter renowned for her portraits and religious works, and José Manchego (1810-1892), a politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Spanish Parliament.

While the surname Manchego is primarily associated with Spain, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the region of La Mancha, where the name first emerged and gained prominence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Manchego

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

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

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

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