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

Ojeda, 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 Ojeda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ojeda in America

Ojeda is the 1633rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ojeda surname appeared 22,045 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 7 people would have the surname Ojeda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ojeda 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 Ojeda

The surname Ojeda has its origins in Spain, more specifically in the northern region of Cantabria. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Spanish word "ojeda," which means "small valley" or "small ravine." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person who lived in or near a small valley or ravine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ojeda can be found in the 13th century document "Becerro de las Behetrías de Castilla," which documented landholdings and properties in the region of Castile. The name is also present in the 15th century census records of the Kingdom of Castile, indicating its widespread use during that time.

In terms of historical figures, one of the most notable individuals with the surname Ojeda is Alonso de Ojeda, a Spanish explorer and conquistador who lived from around 1468 to 1515. He was a contemporary of Christopher Columbus and played a significant role in the exploration and colonization of the Caribbean and South America. Ojeda led several expeditions to the northern coast of present-day Colombia and Venezuela, establishing settlements and engaging in conflicts with indigenous populations.

Another notable figure is Diego de Ojeda, a Spanish painter and architect who lived in the 16th century. He was renowned for his work on the Alcázar of Seville, a royal palace known for its intricate architectural designs and ornate decorations.

In the literary realm, Juan de Ojeda y Lafrente (1711-1789) was a Spanish playwright and poet who gained recognition for his comedic works and contributions to the Spanish theater during the Enlightenment period.

Moving forward in time, José Joaquín de Ojeda (1833-1862) was a Spanish military officer and politician who fought in the Spanish-Moroccan War and later served as a senator in the Spanish parliament.

Lastly, Jesús Ojeda (1898-1973) was a Mexican composer and musician known for his contributions to the development of Mexican folk music and traditional mariachi genres.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Ojeda throughout history, highlighting its Spanish roots and presence across various fields, from exploration and conquest to art, literature, and music.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ojeda

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

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

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

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