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

Martínez-Ayala, 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 Martínez-Ayala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Martínez-Ayala in America

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

The Martínez-Ayala 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 Martínez-Ayala.

The history of the last name Martínez-Ayala

The surname "MARTINEZAYALA" is a compound surname of Spanish origin, formed by the combination of two separate surnames, "Martinez" and "Ayala." It likely originated in Spain during the Middle Ages, when it was common practice for individuals to adopt double surnames, often combining the paternal and maternal family names.

The first part of the surname, "Martinez," is a patronymic surname derived from the given name "Martin," which has its roots in the Latin name "Martinus." This name was popularized by Saint Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier who later became a monk and was renowned for his compassion and generosity. The suffix "-ez" is a common patronymic ending in Spanish surnames, indicating a familial relationship.

The second part of the surname, "Ayala," is believed to have originated from a place name in the Basque region of Spain. The town of Ayala, located in the province of Álava, was once a significant settlement during the Middle Ages. It is possible that the name was initially adopted by individuals who hailed from or held land in this area.

Historically, the surname "MARTINEZAYALA" can be traced back to the 15th century, as evidenced by records found in various Spanish archives and manuscripts. One notable figure bearing this surname was Fernán Pérez de Ayala y Martinez, a prominent Spanish nobleman and writer who lived from 1350 to 1407. He was known for his literary works, including the satirical novel "El Libro de la Caza," which provided insights into the social and political climate of his era.

In the 16th century, another individual named Diego Martínez de Ayala gained recognition as a Spanish conquistador and explorer. He participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés and later became one of the first Europeans to explore and document the territory that is now known as New Mexico in the United States.

During the 17th century, the surname "MARTINEZAYALA" made its way to the Americas as a result of Spanish colonization and migration. One notable figure from this period was Juan Martínez de Ayala, a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of the province of Nueva Vizcaya in present-day Mexico from 1680 to 1686.

In the 18th century, Pedro Martínez de Ayala y Rozas, a Spanish naval officer and cartographer, made significant contributions to the mapping and exploration of the Pacific Ocean. His detailed charts and navigational records were instrumental in expanding the knowledge of the region during that time.

In the 19th century, Joaquín Martínez de Ayala y Fernández, a Spanish military officer and politician, played a significant role in the Spanish colonial administration in Cuba. He served as the Captain General of Cuba from 1858 to 1859 and implemented various reforms aimed at modernizing the island's infrastructure and economy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Martínez-Ayala

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Martínez-Ayala.

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 Martínez-Ayala 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.

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 Martínez-Ayala was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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