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

Palafox, 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 Palafox surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Palafox in America

Palafox is the 5945th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Palafox surname appeared 5,793 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Palafox.

We can also compare 2010 data for Palafox 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 Palafox

The surname Palafox originated in Spain, specifically in the Aragon region, during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Latin words "palus," meaning "swamp" or "marsh," and "foxo," meaning "ditch" or "trench." The name likely referred to a geographical feature or a place where the original bearers of the name resided.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Palafox surname can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various historical documents from the Kingdom of Aragon. In these records, the name was sometimes spelled as "Palafox" or variations like "Palafos" or "Palafog."

The Palafox family gained prominence in the 15th century, with several members holding influential positions in the Spanish nobility. One notable figure was Juan de Palafox y Mendoza (1600-1659), a Spanish scholar, writer, and Roman Catholic bishop. He served as the Bishop of Puebla in New Spain (present-day Mexico) and was known for his efforts in promoting education and defending the rights of indigenous peoples.

Another prominent individual bearing the Palafox surname was José de Palafox y Melzi (1776-1847), a Spanish military officer and nobleman. He played a significant role in the Peninsular War against the French invasion of Spain, serving as the Captain General of Aragon and later as the Viceroy of Navarre.

In the 16th century, the Palafox family established connections with the town of Ariza, located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon. This town was historically known as "Ariza de Palafox," reflecting the family's influence in the area. Some records from this period mention individuals with surnames like "Palafox de Ariza" or "Palafox y Ariza."

Another notable figure was José de Palafox y Rebolledo (1839-1920), a Spanish military officer and politician who served as the Minister of War for Spain in the late 19th century. He played a crucial role in modernizing the Spanish armed forces and implementing reforms in the military.

Over the centuries, the Palafox surname has spread beyond Spain to other parts of the world, particularly to Latin American countries with strong Spanish colonial ties, such as Mexico, Argentina, and Peru. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval Aragon region of Spain, where it emerged as a prominent surname associated with influential families and historical figures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Palafox

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

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

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

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