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

Oaxaca, 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 Oaxaca surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oaxaca in America

Oaxaca is the 34707th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oaxaca surname appeared 651 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 Oaxaca.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oaxaca 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 Oaxaca

The surname Oaxaca originates from the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. The name likely derives from the Nahuatl word "Huaxyacac," meaning "among the huajes trees." The huaje is a type of tree native to the region.

According to historical records, the area that is now Oaxaca was inhabited by various indigenous groups, including the Zapotecs and Mixtecs, before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. The name Oaxaca was likely used to refer to the region or its inhabitants during this pre-colonial period.

One of the earliest known references to the name Oaxaca can be found in the Codex Mendoza, a 16th-century Aztec codex that documented the tribute paid to the Aztec Empire by various regions, including Oaxaca. This codex provides valuable insights into the region's history and the significance of the name Oaxaca during the pre-Hispanic era.

Over the centuries, the name Oaxaca has been associated with several notable individuals from the region. One of the earliest recorded figures was Benito Juárez (1806-1872), a Zapotec lawyer and politician who served as the 26th President of Mexico from 1858 to 1872. He is remembered for his efforts to modernize the country and defend its sovereignty against foreign intervention.

Another prominent figure with the surname Oaxaca was Rufino Tamayo (1899-1991), a renowned Mexican painter and printmaker known for his vibrant, abstract works that blended elements of modern art with traditional Mexican motifs. His art has been exhibited in major museums worldwide and is celebrated as a significant contribution to Mexican cultural heritage.

In the field of literature, Miguel Covarrubias Oaxaca (1904-1957) was a renowned Mexican artist, writer, and ethnologist who studied and documented indigenous cultures throughout Mexico and Central America. His works, such as the book "Mexico South: The Isthmus of Tehuantepec," provided valuable insights into the region's cultural traditions and history.

One cannot overlook the contributions of María Sabina Oaxaca (1888-1985), a Mazatec curandera (healer) and shaman from Oaxaca. She played a crucial role in introducing the traditional Mazatec ritual use of psilocybin mushrooms to Western researchers and writers, influencing the counterculture movement of the 1960s.

Finally, Rufino Tamayo Oaxaca (1889-1952), the father of the renowned artist Rufino Tamayo, was a notable figure in his own right. He was a prominent educator and advocate for indigenous rights in Oaxaca, working tirelessly to promote education and cultural preservation among the region's indigenous communities.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Oaxaca throughout history, contributing to various fields and leaving a lasting impact on the cultural and historical legacy of the region from which the name originates.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oaxaca

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!