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

Maldonado, 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 Maldonado surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Maldonado in America

Maldonado is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Maldonado surname appeared 104 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 Maldonado.

The history of the last name Maldonado

The surname Moldonado is of Spanish origin, with its roots tracing back to the Iberian Peninsula during the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the region of Galicia, situated in the northwestern corner of Spain.

Moldonado is derived from the Galician term "moldurado," which means "molded" or "shaped." This term likely referred to an occupation or trade involving the shaping or molding of materials, such as pottery, metalwork, or even architectural elements. It is plausible that the name was initially bestowed upon an individual who practiced such a craft.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Moldonado can be found in the medieval tax records of the Kingdom of Castile, dating back to the 14th century. These documents mention a certain Rodrigo Moldonado, a craftsman residing in the city of Burgos.

The surname Moldonado has also been linked to several place names within Spain. For instance, the village of Moldonado in the province of Salamanca may have contributed to the spread and adoption of this surname among its inhabitants.

Throughout history, individuals with the surname Moldonado have left their mark in various fields. One notable figure was Juan Moldonado (1493-1566), a Spanish Catholic theologian and scholar who served as a professor at the University of Salamanca and later became a Dominican friar.

Another prominent bearer of this surname was Pedro Moldonado (1711-1789), a Spanish military officer and explorer who played a significant role in the mapping and exploration of the Amazon Basin during the 18th century.

In the field of literature, Miguel Moldonado (1766-1842) was a Spanish poet and playwright whose works contributed to the flourishing of Romantic literature in Spain during the early 19th century.

Moving to the Americas, José María Moldonado (1807-1878) was a prominent Chilean politician and military leader who played a crucial role in the country's struggle for independence from Spanish rule.

Lastly, María Moldonado (1842-1908) was a renowned Mexican painter and educator whose vibrant works captured the essence of her country's cultural heritage and traditions.

While the surname Moldonado may have evolved and spread across different regions over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the rich cultural tapestry of medieval Spain, where it emerged as a marker of a distinct trade or occupation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Maldonado

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

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

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

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