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

Oteyza, 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 Oteyza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oteyza in America

Oteyza is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oteyza surname appeared 103 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 Oteyza.

The history of the last name Oteyza

The surname Oteyza has its origins in the Basque Country, a region that straddles the border between Spain and France. The name is believed to have derived from the Basque language, with "ote" meaning "place" and "yza" referring to a bushy area or thicket.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various Basque-language documents and records. One notable mention is found in the "Fueros de Vizcaya," a legal code from the region, which references an individual named Sancho Oteyza in the year 1258.

In the 15th century, the name appears in the "Libro de Armería," a medieval Spanish book of heraldry, where it is associated with a noble family from the town of Oñati in Gipuzkoa, Spain. This suggests that the Oteyza name held a degree of prominence and status during that era.

Over the centuries, the name has been documented with various spelling variations, including Otaiza, Oteiza, and Oteyça, reflecting the phonetic nature of the Basque language and regional dialects.

Notable individuals who have borne the surname Oteyza include:

1. Jorge Oteiza (1908-2003), a renowned Basque sculptor and artist known for his abstract works and theoretical writings on art.
2. Julián Oteyza (1908-2002), a Spanish-Basque architect and urban planner who designed several prominent buildings in Bilbao and other cities.
3. María Oteyza (1891-1976), a Spanish writer and journalist who authored several novels and short stories in the early 20th century.
4. Pedro Oteyza (1520-1589), a Spanish sailor and explorer who accompanied Juan de la Cosa on his expeditions to the Caribbean and Central America in the 16th century.
5. Emilio Oteyza (1855-1923), a Basque politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Spanish Parliament and advocated for regional autonomy.

While the name has its roots in the Basque region, it has since spread to other parts of Spain and beyond, carried by migration and the diaspora of Basque communities over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oteyza

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

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

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

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