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

Pagaza, 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 Pagaza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pagaza in America

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

The Pagaza 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 Pagaza.

The history of the last name Pagaza

The surname PAGAZA is believed to have originated in the Basque region of northern Spain and southwestern France, an area known for its rugged landscapes and unique cultural traditions. The name likely derives from the Basque word "pagaza," meaning "beech tree," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this surname may have lived near or worked with beech trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PAGAZA surname can be found in the Cartulario de San Millán de la Cogolla, a collection of medieval manuscripts from the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla in La Rioja, Spain. In this manuscript, dated around the 11th century, a person named "Sancho Pagaza" is mentioned as a landowner in the region.

Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the PAGAZA name appeared sporadically in various documents and records from the Basque region and neighboring areas. For instance, in the 14th century, a nobleman named Juan de PAGAZA was recorded as a witness to a legal transaction in the town of Vitoria-Gasteiz, suggesting that the name held some prominence during that time.

As the centuries passed, the PAGAZA surname spread beyond its Basque origins, with notable individuals emerging in various fields. One such figure was Miguel de PAGAZA, a 16th-century Spanish navigator and explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to Mexico. Another notable bearer of the name was Catalina de PAGAZA, a 17th-century nun and writer from the Basque Country, known for her spiritual works and poetry.

In the 18th century, the PAGAZA surname gained further recognition with the birth of José María de PAGAZA y Aguirre (1739-1809), a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Puerto Rico from 1786 to 1789. During his tenure, he implemented several reforms and infrastructure projects that improved the island's defenses and economic development.

Another prominent figure bearing the PAGAZA name was Fermín PAGAZA y Guezala (1825-1896), a Spanish politician and lawyer who served as a deputy in the Spanish Parliament and was involved in the drafting of the 1869 Spanish Constitution. His contributions to the legal and political spheres of his time solidified the PAGAZA name's association with intellectual and civic pursuits.

While the PAGAZA surname has maintained its roots in the Basque region and Spain, it has also found its way to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. As a result, the name has become a part of the diverse tapestry of global surnames, carrying with it the echoes of its rich historical and cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pagaza

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

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

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

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