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

Orteza, 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 Orteza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Orteza in America

Orteza is the 133048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Orteza surname appeared 127 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 Orteza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Orteza 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 Orteza

The surname Orteza is believed to have originated in Spain, specifically in the Basque region. It can be traced back to the 15th century, where it was derived from the Basque word "ortze," meaning "frost" or "ice." This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived in colder, mountainous regions or had occupations related to the winter season.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname Orteza can be found in the archives of the town of Lesaka, located in the province of Navarre, Spain. Records dating back to the late 16th century mention individuals with this surname residing in the area. It is likely that the name spread from this region to other parts of Spain and eventually to other countries through migration and exploration.

In the 17th century, the name appears in several historical documents, including records of military service and land ownership. One notable individual with the surname Orteza was Juan Orteza, a Spanish soldier who fought in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) and was recognized for his bravery on the battlefield.

As the Spanish Empire expanded, the name Orteza began to appear in various colonies and territories. In the 18th century, Pedro Orteza, a Spanish explorer and cartographer, was commissioned to map the western coast of South America, contributing to the geographical knowledge of the region.

In the 19th century, the name gained prominence in the arts and literature. María Orteza, a Spanish painter born in 1822, gained recognition for her landscape paintings depicting the natural beauty of her homeland. Additionally, José Orteza y Gasset, a Spanish philosopher and essayist, was born in 1883 and became influential in the field of existentialism.

Moving into the 20th century, the surname Orteza continued to be associated with notable figures. Miguel Orteza, a Mexican actor born in 1920, had a successful career in both film and television, appearing in several acclaimed productions. Raúl Orteza, a Chilean writer and journalist born in 1945, was known for his works exploring social and political themes in Latin America.

While the surname Orteza has its roots in Spain and the Basque region, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through Spanish-speaking communities. Today, individuals bearing this surname can be found in countries such as Mexico, Chile, Argentina, and the United States, among others.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Orteza

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

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

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

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