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

Monsivais, 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 Monsivais surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Monsivais in America

Monsivais is the 11894th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Monsivais surname appeared 2,632 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Monsivais.

We can also compare 2010 data for Monsivais 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 Monsivais

The surname Monsivais has its origins in Spain, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the Spanish town of Monsiváis, located in the province of Cuenca. The name is likely a compound of the words "monte" (mountain) and "valdés" (valley), suggesting a geographic location nestled between mountains and valleys.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Monsivais can be found in the Becerro de Behetrías, an ancient Castilian manuscript from the 14th century. This document, which catalogued the nobility and landowners of the time, mentions several individuals bearing the Monsivais surname, indicating their presence in the region during that era.

In the 16th century, records show that a prominent figure named Alonso de Monsivais served as a military commander under King Philip II of Spain. His exploits and contributions to the Spanish Crown during the Reconquista period are well-documented in historical accounts from that time.

During the Age of Exploration, the Monsivais name made its way to the Americas as Spanish settlers and conquistadors ventured across the Atlantic. One notable figure was Diego de Monsivais, a colonial administrator who played a significant role in the governance of New Spain (present-day Mexico) in the late 16th century.

Another notable figure bearing the Monsivais surname was Fray Juan de Monsivais, a Spanish friar who lived in the 17th century. He was renowned for his missionary work in the Americas, particularly in the region now known as Texas, where he established several missions and worked to convert indigenous populations to Catholicism.

In the 18th century, a distinguished writer and poet named Juana Inés de Monsivais gained recognition for her literary contributions. Her works, which explored themes of love, religion, and societal issues, earned her a place among the prominent figures of the Spanish Golden Age.

Over the centuries, the Monsivais surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Monsiváis, Monsiváez, and Monsiváiz, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic adaptations. However, the core essence of the name, rooted in its Spanish origins, has remained intact across generations and geographic boundaries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Monsivais

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

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

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

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