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

Oropeza, 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 Oropeza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oropeza in America

Oropeza is the 4965th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oropeza surname appeared 7,082 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Oropeza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oropeza 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 Oropeza

The surname Oropeza is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in Spain. It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to a place or region where the family first settled or resided.

One theory suggests that the name is derived from the Spanish words "oro" (gold) and "peza" (piece or portion), possibly indicating that the family's ancestral home was located in an area known for its gold mining or rich mineral deposits. Another interpretation links the name to the town of Oropesa, located in the province of Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain.

Historical records indicate that the Oropeza surname appears in various Spanish documents dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. Some of the earliest known references can be found in the census records and municipal archives of towns and villages across Spain, particularly in the regions of Castile, Aragon, and Andalusia.

One notable individual bearing the Oropeza surname was Fernán Álvarez de Oropesa, a Spanish nobleman and military commander who lived in the 15th century. He was a trusted advisor to King Juan II of Castile and played a significant role in the conquest of Granada, the last Muslim-ruled territory in the Iberian Peninsula.

Another prominent figure was Juan de Oropesa, a renowned Spanish theologian and philosopher who lived during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was a professor at the University of Salamanca and served as the Grand Inquisitor of Spain from 1517 to 1518.

In the 16th century, the Oropeza family established a noble lineage in Spain, with several members holding important positions in the court and military. One such figure was Pedro de Oropesa, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés in the early 1500s.

During the colonial era, the Oropeza surname spread to the Spanish territories in the Americas, including Mexico, Peru, and various regions of Central and South America. Notable individuals from this period include José de Oropeza, a Spanish colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Panama in the late 17th century.

In more recent times, the Oropeza surname has been carried by several influential figures in various fields. For example, Salvador Oropeza was a Mexican artist and sculptor active in the early 20th century, known for his contributions to the Mexican Muralist movement.

The surname Oropeza continues to be prevalent in Spain, Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, reflecting its rich historical and cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oropeza

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

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

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

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