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

Ondarza, 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 Ondarza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ondarza in America

Ondarza is the 147253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ondarza surname appeared 112 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 Ondarza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ondarza 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 Ondarza

The surname Ondarza has its origins in the Basque region, which spans parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. It is believed to have emerged around the 12th century, deriving from the Basque words "ondo" (meaning "good") and "artza" (meaning "bear"). This suggests the name may have initially referred to someone with bear-like qualities or traits, perhaps indicating strength or bravery.

Historically, the name appears to have been concentrated in the Basque provinces of Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia, particularly in areas such as Oñati and Azpeitia. Early variations of the spelling included Ondarchaa, Ondarcea, and Ondarzaa, reflecting the linguistic evolution of the Basque language over time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ondarza can be found in a 14th-century document from the archives of the Monastery of Santa María la Real in Nájera, Spain. This document mentions an individual named Martín Ondarza, who was involved in a land dispute.

Centuries later, in the 16th century, the name surfaced in a historical record from the town of Oñati, where a prominent family bearing the Ondarza surname played a significant role in local affairs. One notable member of this family was Juan Ondarza (1520-1588), who served as a respected merchant and alderman in the town.

Another notable figure with the Ondarza surname was María Ondarza (1644-1712), a Basque noblewoman from Azpeitia. She inherited a substantial fortune and landholdings, contributing to the family's wealth and influence in the region.

In the 18th century, the name Ondarza appeared in historical records from the town of Lequeitio, where a family of shipbuilders and merchants carried this surname. One of their descendants, Ignacio Ondarza (1745-1821), became a successful merchant and ship owner, trading across the Atlantic.

During the 19th century, the Ondarza name gained further recognition in the Basque Country. Tomás Ondarza (1802-1878) was a prominent lawyer and politician from Bilbao, who served as a deputy in the Spanish parliament and played a crucial role in advocating for Basque autonomy.

While these are just a few examples, the Ondarza surname has a rich history deeply rooted in the Basque region, with various individuals bearing this name making significant contributions to their communities over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ondarza

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

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

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

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