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Rare Last name

Ordaz

A Spanish habitational surname referring to someone from any of several places called Ordás, derived from Basque "orda" meaning "forest clearing."

According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 9,014 Americans carry the last name Ordaz. That puts it at #4,578 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.63 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 38,025 residents).

This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ordaz surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.

Bearers in the US

9.0K

1 in 38,025

Census rank

#4,578

2010 decennial data

Per 100,000

2.6

Frequency rate

Recorded bearers

7.8K

rare in the US

Popularity narrative

The Census Bureau recorded 7,753 bearers of the surname Ordaz in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.63 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 4578th position in the national surname ranking.

Among Census respondents with the surname Ordaz, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.6%. The next largest groups are White (3.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.3%).

Origin

Meaning and origin of Ordaz

The surname Ordaz is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated from the medieval Spanish word "orden," meaning "order" or "orderly," which was likely a descriptive nickname for someone of an orderly or organized nature.

In its earliest recorded instances, the name appeared in various legal documents and municipal records from regions such as Castile and Andalusia. One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Pedro Ordaz, a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century.

The Ordaz surname also has ties to the Basque region of Spain, where it may have derived from the Basque word "orda," meaning "wild boar." This suggests that the name could have been used as a nickname for someone with a fierce or aggressive demeanor.

During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, the Ordaz surname spread across the New World, with notable individuals such as Diego Ordaz, a Spanish explorer and conquistador who led expeditions in present-day Venezuela and Colombia in the 1530s.

Another prominent figure bearing the Ordaz name was Juan Ordaz, a Spanish soldier and explorer who accompanied Francisco Vázquez de Coronado on his expedition to the American Southwest in the 1540s. Ordaz was instrumental in exploring and documenting the region that would later become part of New Mexico and Arizona.

In the artistic realm, José Clemente Ordaz Rodríguez (1862-1937) was a renowned Mexican painter and sculptor, known for his works depicting scenes from Mexican history and culture. His murals and sculptures can be found adorning various public buildings and monuments in Mexico City and other parts of the country.

Moving into the 20th century, Alfredo Ordaz Aguilar (1908-1986) was a Mexican politician who served as the Governor of the state of Puebla from 1957 to 1963. He was instrumental in implementing educational and infrastructure reforms in the state during his tenure.

These are just a few notable examples of individuals who have carried the Ordaz surname throughout history, showcasing its rich cultural heritage and diverse contributions across various fields.

Demographics

Ancestry and ethnicity for Ordaz

Among Census respondents with the surname Ordaz, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.6%. The next largest groups are White (3.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.3%).

The bar chart below shows how Ordaz bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.

Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Ordaz surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.

  • Hispanic or Latino95.6%
  • White3.8%
  • Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
  • Black or African American0.2%
  • Two or more races0.1%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native0.1%

Year on year

2000 vs 2010 Census

How has the Ordaz surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.

Census year comparison

20002010
Bearer countPer 100,000 residents20002010200020105,2117,7531.92.6
Metric 2000 2010 Change
Rank #6,070 #4,578 24.6%
Count 5,211 7,753 48.8%
Per 100K 1.93 2.63 36.3%

Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Ordaz bearers went from 5,211 to 7,753 (+48.8% change). The surname moved up 1,492 positions in the national ranking, going from #6,070 to #4,578.

FAQ

Ordaz surname: questions and answers

How common is the last name Ordaz?

The surname Ordaz holds position #4,578 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 9,014 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.63 per 100,000 Americans.

What is the ethnic background of the Ordaz surname?

Among Census respondents with the surname Ordaz, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.6%. The next largest groups are White (3.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.

Where does this surname data come from?

All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.

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