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

Morataya, 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 Morataya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Morataya in America

Morataya is the 15806th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Morataya surname appeared 1,842 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 Morataya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Morataya 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 Morataya

The surname Morataya is believed to have originated in the Philippines, likely during the 16th or 17th century when the Spanish colonized the archipelago. It is speculated that the name may have derived from a combination of Spanish and indigenous Tagalog or Visayan words, possibly referring to a specific location or describing a physical feature.

One theory suggests that Morataya might have originated from the Spanish word "morada," meaning dwelling or residence, and the Tagalog word "taya," which can mean a stake or marker. This could indicate that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a particular landmark or boundary marker.

Another possibility is that the name was initially a place name itself, perhaps derived from the Tagalog words "mora" (which can mean purple or dark-colored) and "taya" (stake or marker), potentially describing a settlement or area characterized by its distinctive terrain or vegetation.

Early records of the Morataya surname are scarce, as systematic documentation of Filipino names was limited during the Spanish colonial period. However, some historical accounts and church records from the 17th and 18th centuries may contain references to individuals with this surname, particularly in the Visayan region of the Philippines.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Morataya was Juan Morataya, a Filipino revolutionary who participated in the struggle against Spanish colonial rule in the late 19th century. He was born in the province of Leyte in 1858 and played a significant role in the Visayan theater of the Philippine Revolution.

Another notable figure was Mariano Morataya, a Filipino poet and writer who lived in the early 20th century. He was born in the province of Cebu in 1879 and published several collections of poetry and short stories that explored themes of Philippine culture and identity during the American colonial period.

In the mid-20th century, Josefa Morataya gained recognition as a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights in the Philippines. She founded several schools and organizations dedicated to promoting educational opportunities for underprivileged children and empowering women in various communities.

More recently, Maria Morataya has made a name for herself as a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur in the Philippines. She established a chain of sustainable eco-resorts and has been recognized for her efforts in promoting responsible tourism and environmental conservation.

Another individual of note is Andres Morataya, a contemporary Filipino artist who has gained international acclaim for his vibrant and evocative paintings that depict scenes from rural life and traditional Filipino culture.

While the exact origins of the Morataya surname remain uncertain, its presence in various historical records and the achievements of individuals bearing this name reflect the rich cultural heritage and diverse contributions of Filipinos throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Morataya

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

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

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

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