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

Paloma, 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 Paloma surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Paloma in America

Paloma is the 42030th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Paloma surname appeared 517 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 Paloma.

We can also compare 2010 data for Paloma 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 Paloma

The surname Paloma originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "paloma," which means "dove" or "pigeon." The name likely had its roots in a nickname given to someone who had a particular affinity or resemblance to these birds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Paloma can be found in a document from the 13th century, where a person named Pedro Paloma was mentioned as a landowner in the region of Andalusia, Southern Spain. This region was known for its rich agricultural history, and it is possible that the Paloma family played a role in farming or breeding pigeons.

During the 15th century, the surname Paloma appeared in various records across Spain, including in the city of Seville, where a family by the name of Paloma was involved in the textile trade. This suggests that the name had spread beyond its original geographical boundaries and had become more widespread.

In the 16th century, the explorer and cartographer Juan Paloma, born in 1522, embarked on several expeditions to the New World and contributed to the mapping of the Caribbean islands and parts of Central America. His voyages and contributions to exploration added further recognition to the Paloma name.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Paloma was Francisca Paloma, a renowned painter from the 17th century. Born in 1625 in Valencia, she was celebrated for her religious artwork and portraits, which can still be found in various churches and museums across Spain.

In the 19th century, the poet and playwright Manuel Paloma, born in 1812 in Madrid, gained recognition for his works that explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition. His play "El jardín de las ilusiones" (The Garden of Illusions) was particularly well-received and remains a significant contribution to Spanish literature.

Throughout its history, the surname Paloma has been associated with various occupations and achievements, from agriculture and exploration to the arts and literature. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Spain, the name has since spread to other parts of the world, carrying with it a rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Paloma

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

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

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

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