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

Padilla, 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 Padilla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Padilla in America

Padilla is the 293rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Padilla surname appeared 105,365 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 36 people would have the surname Padilla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Padilla 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 Padilla

The surname Padilla originated in Spain and is derived from the Spanish word "padilla," which means "a small meadow or field." The name has its roots in the Castilian region of Spain, where it first emerged in the 10th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the Padilla surname can be found in medieval Spanish documents, such as the Becerro de Behetrías, a census-like record of landowners and their properties compiled in the late 14th century. The name is believed to have been initially associated with individuals who lived near or owned small meadows or fields.

One of the most notable historical figures bearing the Padilla surname was Juan de Padilla (1490-1521), a Spanish nobleman and leader of the Comuneros Revolt against the imperial forces of King Charles V. He was ultimately captured and executed for his role in the uprising.

Another prominent individual with the Padilla surname was Tomás de Padilla (1555-1633), a Spanish Jesuit missionary who worked extensively in South America, particularly in present-day Peru and Bolivia. He is credited with establishing several missions and contributing to the spread of Christianity in the region.

In the realm of literature, the Spanish novelist and playwright Francisco de Quevedo y Villegas (1580-1645) was born with the maternal surname Padilla. He is considered one of the most prominent figures of the Spanish Golden Age and is renowned for his satirical works and poetry.

Moving to the 19th century, José María Padilla (1889-1959) was a renowned Spanish composer and conductor, best known for his zarzuelas (Spanish operettas) and other works that celebrated the musical traditions of Spain.

In more recent times, the Mexican-American singer and actress Lila Downs (born Ana Gabriela Guadalupe Orozco Padilla in 1968) has gained international recognition for her fusion of traditional Mexican music with various other genres, earning multiple Grammy Awards and Latin Grammy Awards.

While the Padilla surname has its origins in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including Latin America and the United States, where it continues to be a prominent surname among individuals of Hispanic descent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Padilla

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

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

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

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