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

Pilco, 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 Pilco surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pilco in America

Pilco is the 126018th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pilco surname appeared 136 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 Pilco.

The history of the last name Pilco

The surname PILCO has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the region of Catalonia, which spans parts of modern-day Spain and France. It is believed to have emerged during the early medieval period, around the 9th or 10th century.

PILCO is thought to be derived from the Catalan word "pilco," which means "small hill" or "mound." This suggests that the name may have originally been a topographic descriptor, referring to someone who lived near a small hill or elevated land feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PILCO surname can be found in a medieval Catalan manuscript from the 12th century, which mentions a person named "Guillem de Pilco." This indicates that the name had already been established and in use by that time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the PILCO surname was Joan Pilco, a Catalan merchant and trader who was involved in the flourishing trade between the Mediterranean ports of Barcelona and the Italian city-states.

During the 15th century, the PILCO name appeared in several historical documents from the region of Aragon, which was then part of the Crown of Aragon. One such document, dated 1467, records a land transaction involving a family with the surname PILCO.

In the 16th century, there are records of a prominent physician named Pere Pilco, who practiced in Barcelona and was highly regarded for his medical expertise.

As the centuries passed, the PILCO surname spread beyond its Catalan origins and can be found in various parts of Spain and even in other Spanish-speaking regions of the world. Notable individuals with this surname include Miguel Pilco, a Spanish explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to Mexico in the early 16th century.

Another significant figure was Andrés Pilco, a Spanish painter and artist who lived in the 17th century and was renowned for his religious and historical paintings, which adorned many churches and palaces in Spain.

In the 19th century, a prominent military officer named Ramón Pilco played a role in the Spanish colonial wars in the Americas, earning recognition for his bravery and leadership.

While the PILCO surname may have originated as a humble topographic descriptor, it has endured through the centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, physicians, artists, and military leaders.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pilco

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

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

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

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