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

Orobio, 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 Orobio surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Orobio in America

Orobio is the 133863rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Orobio surname appeared 126 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 Orobio.

The history of the last name Orobio

The surname Orobio is of Spanish and Jewish origin, traced back to the Sephardic Jewish communities of Spain during the Middle Ages. It is believed to derive from the Spanish word "oro," meaning "gold," potentially referencing the occupation of goldsmiths or the affluence of certain families bearing this name.

One of the earliest known references to the Orobio surname can be found in the records of the Spanish Inquisition, which persecuted and forced the conversion or expulsion of Jews from Spain in the late 15th century. Many Sephardic Jews fled Spain during this period, settling in various parts of Europe, North Africa, and the Ottoman Empire, carrying their surnames with them.

In the 16th century, a prominent individual named Isaac Orobio de Castro (1617-1687) was born in Bragança, Portugal, to a family of Marrano Jews (Jews who publicly converted to Christianity but secretly practiced Judaism). He later emigrated to Amsterdam, where he openly embraced Judaism and became a renowned philosopher and polemicist, writing extensively on the Jewish faith and engaging in debates with Christian theologians.

Another notable figure with the Orobio surname was Balthasar Orobio (c. 1620-1687), a Marrano Jew from Seville, Spain, who later settled in Amsterdam and became a prominent member of the Jewish community there. He is known for his involvement in the famous theological dispute with the philosopher Baruch Spinoza, challenging Spinoza's ideas on religion and philosophy.

In the 19th century, a Spanish author and journalist named Manuel María Orobio y Hualde (1835-1904) gained recognition for his works on literature and politics. He was born in Seville and played an active role in the intellectual and cultural life of his time.

Another figure of note is the American businessman and philanthropist Jack Orobio (1918-2003), who was born in New York City to a family of Sephardic Jewish descent. He made significant contributions to various charitable organizations and was involved in real estate and banking endeavors.

While the Orobio surname has its roots in Spain and the Sephardic Jewish diaspora, it has since spread to other parts of the world, with families bearing this name found in various countries, including the United States, Latin America, and other regions where Sephardic Jews have settled over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Orobio

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

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

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

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