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

Moraza, 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 Moraza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Moraza in America

Moraza is the 82613th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Moraza surname appeared 228 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 Moraza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Moraza 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 Moraza

The surname Moraza is of Spanish origin, with its roots traced back to the Basque region of northern Spain during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Basque word "mora," meaning "mulberry tree," suggesting a connection to a place or region where mulberry trees thrived.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Moraza can be found in the Becerro Galicano, a historical document from the 14th century that contains records of noble families and their landholdings in the Basque provinces. This document mentions individuals bearing the name Moraza, indicating their presence in the region during that time.

In the 16th century, there are records of a prominent figure named Juan de Moraza (c. 1520-1585), who served as a military officer under the Spanish Crown during the reign of King Philip II. He participated in various campaigns and was known for his valor and loyalty.

During the 17th century, the surname Moraza appeared in several historical documents related to the Spanish colonial expansion in the Americas. One notable individual was Pedro de Moraza (c. 1630-1690), a Spanish explorer and navigator who participated in expeditions to the Caribbean and Central America, contributing to the mapping and exploration of those regions.

In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the name was Tomás de Moraza (1745-1815), a Spanish diplomat and statesman who served as the ambassador to various European courts, including those of France and England. He played a significant role in promoting Spanish interests during a period of political turmoil in Europe.

Another prominent figure bearing the surname Moraza was María de Moraza (1790-1868), a Spanish philanthropist and advocate for women's education. She established several schools and educational institutions in her native Basque region, contributing to the advancement of educational opportunities for women during a time when such efforts were rare.

Throughout history, the surname Moraza has been associated with various locations and place names, particularly in the Basque Country and the surrounding regions of northern Spain. Some examples include the town of Moraza in the province of Álava and the village of Moraza in the province of Vizcaya.

While the surname Moraza is not among the most common Spanish surnames, it has a rich historical legacy spanning several centuries and has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from exploration and diplomacy to education and philanthropy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Moraza

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

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

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

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