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

Pacheco, 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 Pacheco surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pacheco in America

Pacheco is the 419th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pacheco surname appeared 77,642 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 26 people would have the surname Pacheco.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pacheco 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 Pacheco

The surname Pacheco originated in Portugal during the medieval period. It is derived from the Portuguese word "pacheco," which means "pacifier" or "peacemaker." The name likely referred to someone who had a calming presence or was known for resolving conflicts.

The earliest recorded instances of the Pacheco surname date back to the 13th century in the region of Beira Litoral, Portugal. It is believed that the name may have originated in the town of Pacheco, located in the district of Aveiro. This town's name is derived from the Latin word "pax," meaning peace, further reinforcing the name's connection to peacemaking.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Pacheco was João Pacheco (c. 1295 - c. 1350), a Portuguese nobleman and military leader who served as the alcaide (governor) of Coimbra during the reign of King Afonso IV. He played a crucial role in the Portuguese Reconquista, the campaign to retake territories from the Moors.

Another prominent figure was Duarte Pacheco Pereira (c. 1470 - 1533), a Portuguese explorer, navigator, and author. He is best known for his work "Esmeraldo de Situ Orbis," which provided valuable information about the Portuguese discoveries and trade routes in the Indian Ocean.

In the 16th century, Rodrigo Pacheco y Osorio (c. 1520 - 1576) was a Spanish nobleman and military commander who served as the Viceroy of New Spain (present-day Mexico) from 1624 to 1628. He played a significant role in the Spanish colonization of the Americas.

During the 17th century, Juan Pacheco y Narváez (1602 - 1672) was a Spanish painter known for his religious works and portraiture. He was active in Madrid and Seville, and his works can be found in various churches and museums across Spain.

In the 19th century, José Pacheco y Obes (1820 - 1899) was a Uruguayan politician and diplomat who served as the President of Uruguay from 1868 to 1872. He played a crucial role in the nation's political and economic development during that period.

The Pacheco surname has spread worldwide through immigration and has been adopted by individuals of various ethnic backgrounds. However, its origins remain firmly rooted in Portugal, where it emerged as a designation for those known for their peacekeeping and conflict resolution abilities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pacheco

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

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

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

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