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

Molano, 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 Molano surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Molano in America

Molano is the 18939th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Molano surname appeared 1,441 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 Molano.

We can also compare 2010 data for Molano 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 Molano

The surname Molano is of Spanish origin, with roots that can be traced back to the early medieval period in the Iberian Peninsula. It is believed to have originated in the region of Castile, where it was likely derived from a place name or topographical feature.

One theory suggests that Molano comes from the Latin word "molinus," meaning mill. This could indicate that the earliest bearers of this surname may have lived near a mill or had some connection to the milling trade. Another possibility is that it stems from the word "molino," which translates to small hill or mound in Spanish. In this case, the name may have been given to those residing near a particular hillock or elevated area.

Historical records from the 13th century mention individuals with the surname Molano living in the vicinity of Burgos, a city in northern Spain. Some of the earliest known instances of this name can be found in municipal archives and church registries from that time period.

During the 15th century, a prominent figure named Juan Molano served as a royal secretary and advisor to King Juan II of Castile. His son, Pedro Molano, was a renowned scholar and theologian who played a significant role in the Council of Trent in the mid-16th century.

Another notable bearer of this surname was Diego Molano, a Spanish explorer and conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to Mexico in the early 16th century. He is credited with being one of the first Europeans to set foot in what is now Mexico City.

In the 17th century, a poet and playwright named Juan Pérez de Molano gained recognition for his literary works, particularly his plays and comedies performed in Madrid's theaters.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Molano was José Molano, a Spanish military officer who served as a general during the Peninsular War against Napoleonic France in the early 19th century. His bravery and leadership earned him several honors and distinctions.

Over the centuries, the Molano surname has spread throughout Spain and its former colonies, with descendants found in various parts of Latin America, particularly in countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Molano

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

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

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

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