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

Olayo, 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 Olayo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olayo in America

Olayo is the 41100th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olayo surname appeared 530 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 Olayo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olayo 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 Olayo

The surname OLAYO is of Spanish origin, and it can be traced back to the medieval period in the region of Andalusia, Spain. The name is believed to be derived from the Arabic word "al-ayyu," meaning "the brave" or "the valiant."

During the Moorish rule in Spain, many Arabic names and words were adopted into the Spanish language. The name OLAYO likely emerged as a romanized version of the Arabic name, reflecting the cultural exchange and intermingling that occurred during that time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name OLAYO can be found in the "Libro de las Behetrías" (Book of Behetrias), a medieval document from the 14th century that listed landowners and their holdings in the region of Castile, Spain. The document mentions several individuals with the surname OLAYO, suggesting that the name was already established in that area.

In the 15th century, records from the city of Seville mention a prominent figure named Juan Olayo, who was a wealthy merchant and landowner. His surname is documented in various legal documents and property transactions from that era.

Another historical figure bearing the surname OLAYO was Pedro Olayo, a Spanish explorer and navigator who participated in the exploration and conquest of the Philippines in the 16th century. He was part of the expedition led by Miguel López de Legazpi and played a crucial role in establishing Spanish control over the archipelago.

In the 17th century, a notable individual with the surname OLAYO was María Olayo, a renowned poet and playwright from Andalusia. Her literary works, including plays and poetry collections, were widely acclaimed and contributed to the cultural richness of the Golden Age of Spanish literature.

During the 18th century, Francisco Olayo, a Spanish military officer, gained recognition for his service in the Spanish colonies in the Americas. He participated in various campaigns and battles, earning him a reputation as a skilled strategist and leader.

As the surname OLAYO spread throughout Spain and its territories, it is likely that variations and alternative spellings emerged, such as Olayo, Olaiyo, or Olahio. Additionally, the name may have been influenced by local dialects and regional variations, further diversifying its form and pronunciation.

It is important to note that while this summary provides an overview of the surname OLAYO and its historical significance, individual family histories and connections may vary. The information presented here is based on general historical records and research, but specific ancestral lineages may have their unique stories and contexts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olayo

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

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

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

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