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

Pezo, 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 Pezo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pezo in America

Pezo is the 131379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pezo surname appeared 129 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 Pezo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pezo 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 Pezo

The surname PEZO has its origins in Spain, dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to have originated from the small village of Pezo, located in the northern region of Cantabria. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Latin word "petra," meaning rock or stone, possibly referring to the rocky terrain of the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the archives of the Cathedral of Burgos, where a certain Pedro Pezo is mentioned as a resident of the city in the year 1487. Another notable early reference is Juan Pezo, a merchant from Santander who is documented in the records of the Consulado de Burgos, a historical merchant guild, in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the PEZO surname gained prominence with the birth of Diego Pezo de Villegas (1615-1688), a renowned Spanish poet and playwright from Madrid. His works, which included plays, sonnets, and religious poetry, were widely celebrated during his lifetime and contributed to the spread of the surname throughout Spain.

The 18th century saw the rise of Ignacio Pezo y Herreros (1728-1798), a Spanish military officer and naval engineer who played a significant role in the expansion of the Spanish Navy. He was responsible for the construction of several ships and fortifications, and his achievements contributed to the reputation of the PEZO name in maritime circles.

In the 19th century, the PEZO surname gained international recognition with the birth of Manuel Pezo y Fernández (1818-1892), a Spanish explorer and naturalist who traveled extensively throughout South America. His detailed accounts of the flora and fauna of the region, as well as his contributions to the field of botany, earned him a place in the annals of scientific exploration.

Another notable figure from this period was Juana Pezo de la Cruz (1842-1914), a Spanish painter and pioneer in the field of women's education. Her works, which often depicted scenes of everyday life and traditional Spanish customs, were widely exhibited and celebrated during her lifetime, and she was instrumental in establishing art schools for women in Madrid and Barcelona.

As the PEZO surname spread beyond Spain, it continued to be represented by notable individuals in various fields. In the 20th century, Pedro Pezo Calvo (1902-1983), a Spanish-born American engineer, made significant contributions to the development of aerospace technology, working on projects for NASA and the United States Air Force.

While the examples provided offer a glimpse into the rich history and diverse accomplishments associated with the surname PEZO, it is important to note that these are merely a few notable instances, and the name has undoubtedly been carried by countless individuals throughout its long and storied legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pezo

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

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

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

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