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

Orfila, 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 Orfila surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Orfila in America

Orfila is the 151532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Orfila surname appeared 108 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 Orfila.

The history of the last name Orfila

The surname ORFILA is of Spanish origin, originating in the regions of Catalonia and Valencia. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "orphanus," meaning "orphan." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to children who were orphaned or adopted.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the ORFILA surname can be found in the 13th century, in the town of Tortosa, located in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia. Interestingly, the name was sometimes spelled as "Orfila" or "Orfilla" in historical documents from that era.

In the 14th century, records show the existence of a noble family bearing the ORFILA name in the city of Valencia. This family held significant influence and wealth during that time period, indicating the surname's prominence in the region.

The ORFILA surname also appears in various historical manuscripts and documents from the 16th and 17th centuries, including records from the Spanish Inquisition and local parish registers.

One notable individual with the ORFILA surname was Mateu Orfila (1787-1853), a Spanish chemist and physician who made significant contributions to the field of toxicology. He is considered one of the founders of modern forensic science and is credited with developing methods for detecting poisons in human remains.

Another prominent figure was Josep Orfila i Lecompte (1805-1886), a Catalan artist and painter who gained recognition for his religious and historical paintings. His works can be found in various churches and museums across Spain.

In the 19th century, Andrés Orfila y Arango (1827-1885) was a Cuban politician and writer who served as the President of the Provincial Council of Santiago de Cuba. He played a significant role in the political and cultural life of the region.

The ORFILA surname can also be traced to the Balearic Islands, particularly in the city of Palma de Mallorca, where the name was associated with several notable families involved in trade and commerce during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Lastly, Manuel Orfila y Marcaida (1841-1912) was a Spanish military officer and engineer who served in the Spanish Army and contributed to the development of military infrastructure and fortifications in various regions of Spain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Orfila

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

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 Orfila 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.

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

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

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