Find out how popular the last name Mendoza-Chávez 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-Chávez.

Mendoza-Chávez, 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-Chávez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mendoza-Chávez in America

Mendoza-Chávez is the 141140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mendoza-Chávez surname appeared 118 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-Chávez.

The history of the last name Mendoza-Chávez

The surname MENDOZACHAVEZ is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period of the Iberian Peninsula. It is a compound surname formed by the fusion of two distinct family names: Mendoza and Chavez.

The Mendoza part of the name likely originated from the town of Mendoza, located in the northern Spanish region of La Rioja. This place name itself derives from the Basque words "mendi," meaning mountain, and "otz," meaning cold, suggesting a connection to the town's mountainous and chilly climate.

The Chavez component, on the other hand, has its origins in the Spanish word "chave," which means key. It is believed to have been an occupational surname initially given to locksmiths or key makers.

One of the earliest recorded appearances of the name Mendoza can be found in the "Cantar de Mio Cid," an epic poem from the 12th century, which mentions a character named Lope de Mendoza. This indicates that the Mendoza family had already established itself as a prominent lineage in Spain by that time.

In the 14th century, the Mendoza family gained significant power and influence, with individuals such as Pedro González de Mendoza serving as a prominent military leader and diplomat during the reign of King Alfonso XI of Castile.

The Chavez surname, too, has a rich history, with notable bearers such as Rodrigo de Chavez, a 16th-century Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico under Hernán Cortés.

In the 17th century, Juan de Mendoza y Chavez, a Spanish nobleman and military commander, played a crucial role in the defense of Cadiz against English and Dutch naval forces during the Anglo-Spanish War.

Another notable figure with the combined surname was María Mendozachavez, a 19th-century Chilean writer and poet who contributed to the literary movement known as the "Generación del 38" in her home country.

Historically, the surname MENDOZACHAVEZ has been associated with nobility, military prowess, and literary achievements, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this distinguished name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mendoza-Chávez

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

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-Chávez 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 Mendoza-Chávez 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-Chávez, please contact us.

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