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

Mendoza, 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 Mendoza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mendoza in America

Mendoza is the 62189th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mendoza surname appeared 322 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 Mendoza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mendoza 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 Mendoza

The surname Mandoza originated in Spain during the 15th century. It is derived from the Spanish word "mendoza," which refers to a small village or town located in the La Rioja region of northern Spain. The name is believed to have roots in the Basque language, with "mendi" meaning "mountain" and "otza" meaning "cold."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mandoza can be found in a land grant document from 1492, where a certain Juan de Mandoza was granted a parcel of land near the town of Mendoza. This document provides evidence that the surname was already in use by the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the name appears in several historical manuscripts, including a chronicle of the Spanish conquest of Mexico. A soldier named Diego de Mandoza is mentioned as part of Hernán Cortés's expedition, which conquered the Aztec Empire in the 1520s.

During the 17th century, a prominent figure bearing the Mandoza surname was Pedro de Mandoza y Zúñiga (1565-1629), a Spanish nobleman who served as the Viceroy of Peru from 1615 to 1622. His tenure as Viceroy was marked by significant reforms in the colonial administration and efforts to improve the treatment of indigenous populations.

Another notable individual with the Mandoza surname was María de Mandoza (1610-1686), a Spanish mystic and writer who authored several works on spiritual matters. Her writings were widely read and influential during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, a renowned military leader named Antonio de Mandoza y Maldonado (1720-1792) gained recognition for his role in the Spanish campaigns against the Moors in North Africa. He rose through the ranks to become a highly decorated general and played a pivotal role in several major battles.

During the 19th century, a renowned Spanish artist and painter named José de Mandoza (1810-1878) gained widespread acclaim for his portraits and landscapes. His works were exhibited in major European cities and are now housed in various art museums across Spain.

These examples illustrate the widespread presence and historical significance of the Mandoza surname, which has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, military leaders, writers, and artists, throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mendoza

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

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

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

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