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

Morales, 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 Morales surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Morales in America

Morales is the 100302nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Morales surname appeared 180 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 Morales.

We can also compare 2010 data for Morales 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 Morales

The surname MORRALES has its origins in Spain, specifically in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura. It is believed to have emerged in the late Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th century. The name MORRALES is derived from the Spanish word "morral," which refers to a small bag or sack used by travelers and shepherds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MORRALES surname can be found in the archives of the town of Seville, dating back to the mid-15th century. At that time, the name was spelled "Morales," which was a common variation. This suggests that the surname may have initially been associated with the occupation of making or carrying these small bags or sacks.

In the 16th century, the MORRALES surname began to appear in various historical records across the Spanish territories. One notable mention is in the chronicles of the Spanish conquest of the Americas, where a soldier named Juan MORRALES is documented as having participated in the expedition led by Hernán Cortés to conquer Mexico in the 1520s.

As the Spanish empire expanded, the MORRALES surname spread across different regions. In the 17th century, there are records of MORRALES families settling in the Spanish colonies in the Caribbean, such as Cuba and Puerto Rico. Some of these early settlers were involved in the production and trade of agricultural goods, which may have contributed to the association of the name with rural or farming communities.

Over the centuries, several individuals with the MORRALES surname have gained prominence in various fields. For instance, Juan MORRALES (1620-1692) was a renowned Spanish painter known for his religious works and portraiture. Another notable figure was María MORRALES (1789-1853), a Spanish poet and writer who challenged societal norms and advocated for women's education during the Romantic period.

In the 19th century, the MORRALES surname also appeared in Latin American countries. One significant individual was José María MORRALES (1816-1881), a Mexican military leader and politician who played a crucial role in the Reform War and the establishment of the Mexican Republic.

While the MORRALES surname has its roots in Spain, it has since spread across various regions and cultures, reflecting the global migration and cultural exchange that has occurred throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Morales

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

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

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

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