2000
#10,043
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,960
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.10
Rare Last name
Ortez
A Spanish surname derived from the place name Ortiz, which refers to someone from that location.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,147 Americans carry the last name Ortez. That puts it at #7,180 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.50 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 66,593 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ortez surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
5.1K
1 in 66,593
Census rank
#7,180
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,488 bearers of the surname Ortez in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.50 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7180th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ortez, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.6%. The next largest groups are White (7.0%) and Black (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ortez
The surname Ortez finds its origins in Spain, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "ortiz," which means "gardener" or "orchard keeper." This occupational surname was likely assigned to individuals who worked as gardeners or tended to orchards in various regions of Spain.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Ortez surname can be found in historical documents from the 13th century, referencing a family residing in the city of Seville, Andalusia. The name appeared in municipal records and land ownership documents, indicating that the Ortez family held a respectable position within the local community.
During the 15th century, the Ortez surname gained prominence when a notable figure named Juan Ortez (1420-1498) emerged as a prominent scholar and theologian. Ortez was known for his contributions to the study of canon law and his writings on ecclesiastical matters, which were widely circulated during the Renaissance period.
Another historical figure bearing the Ortez surname was Pedro Ortez (1562-1624), a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied several expeditions to the Americas. He is renowned for his detailed accounts of the natural landscapes and indigenous cultures encountered during his voyages, which provided valuable insights into the early exploration of the New World.
In the 17th century, the Ortez family established a presence in the region of Castile, where they owned vast estates and vineyards. One notable member of this branch was Doña María Ortez (1635-1712), a renowned philanthropist who founded several charities and institutions dedicated to the education and care of underprivileged children.
The Ortez surname also found its way to the Americas, with several individuals bearing this name contributing to the cultural and political landscapes of various countries. One such figure was José Ortez (1780-1853), a Mexican statesman and diplomat who played a crucial role in the negotiations leading to Mexico's independence from Spain in the early 19th century.
While the Ortez surname has its roots in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including Latin America, where it continues to be a prominent name. Throughout history, individuals bearing this surname have left their mark in various fields, from academia and exploration to politics and philanthropy, contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ortez
Among Census respondents with the surname Ortez, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.6%. The next largest groups are White (7.0%) and Black (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Ortez bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Ortez surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino90.6% · 4,064
- White7.0% · 316
- Black or African American0.9% · 39
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 29
- Two or more races0.6% · 27
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 13
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ortez
Ortez appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#8,720
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,762
+802 bearers (+27.1%)
Per 100,000 1.28
Rank movement Up 1,323 places
2020
#7,180
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,488
+726 bearers (+19.3%)
Per 100,000 1.50
Rank movement Up 1,540 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #10,043 | 2,960 | 1.10 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #8,720 | 3,762 | 1.28 | +802 bearers (+27.1%) | Up 1,323 places |
| 2020 | #7,180 | 4,488 | 1.50 | +726 bearers (+19.3%) | Up 1,540 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Ortez surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,720 | #7,180 | 17.7% |
| Count | 3,762 | 4,488 | 19.3% |
| Per 100K | 1.28 | 1.50 | 17.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Ortez bearers went from 3,762 to 4,488 (+19.3% change). The surname moved up 1,540 positions in the national ranking, going from #8,720 to #7,180.
FAQ
Ortez surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ortez?
Name Census estimates that about 5,147 living Americans carry the surname Ortez. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 66,593 residents.
How common is Ortez?
Ortez ranks #7,180 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.50 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 4,488 people with the surname Ortez. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (5,147), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.5 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.50 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Ortez.
Has Ortez become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Ortez went from 3,762 recorded bearers to 4,488. That is an increase of 726 (+19.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #8,720 to #7,180.
What does the Census say about the background of Ortez?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ortez, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.6%. The next largest groups are White (7.0%) and Black (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Ortez in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.6% (4,064 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ortez appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (90.6%), White (7.0%), Black (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Ortez (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Ortez mean?
A Spanish surname derived from the place name Ortiz, which refers to someone from that location. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Ortez (1.50 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Ortez?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.