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

Piscoya, 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 Piscoya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Piscoya in America

Piscoya is the 111426th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Piscoya surname appeared 158 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 Piscoya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Piscoya 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 Piscoya

The surname Piscoya originates from Peru and can be traced back to the early 16th century during the Spanish colonization of the Americas. It is believed to be derived from the Quechua word "piscuya," meaning "a small bird" or "a type of sparrow." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who had a connection with birds, perhaps a bird catcher or someone associated with avian symbolism.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Piscoya can be found in the colonial records of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru, where it was mentioned in reference to a Piscoya family living in the Cusco region. This region, known for its rich Inca heritage, was a hub of cultural and linguistic diversity during the colonial era, and it is likely that the surname Piscoya emerged from this melting pot of indigenous and Spanish influences.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Piscoya name appeared in various ecclesiastical and administrative records, indicating that individuals with this surname held positions within the Catholic Church and colonial government. One notable figure was Fray Juan Piscoya, a Franciscan friar who lived in the late 17th century and was renowned for his missionary work among the indigenous communities of the Andes.

As the centuries progressed, the Piscoya surname spread across Peru and beyond. Juan Piscoya Aguirre (1820-1892), a prominent Peruvian politician and lawyer, served as the Minister of Justice and Education in the late 19th century. Another notable bearer of the name was María Piscoya Velásquez (1876-1958), a pioneering educator who founded several schools in Lima and played a significant role in promoting women's education in Peru.

In the realm of literature, the Peruvian writer and poet Alfredo Piscoya (1903-1989) gained recognition for his works that explored indigenous themes and social issues. His poetry collection "Cantos del Hombre" (Songs of Man) was widely acclaimed and cemented his place in Peruvian literary history.

Beyond Peru, the Piscoya surname can also be found in other parts of South America, particularly in Ecuador and Bolivia, likely due to migration and cultural exchange between these neighboring countries. One notable figure was Javier Piscoya Alvarado (1922-2002), an Ecuadorian lawyer and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the late 1970s.

While the surname Piscoya may have originated from humble beginnings, its rich history and the contributions of its bearers have left an indelible mark on the cultural, political, and intellectual landscapes of Peru and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Piscoya

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

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

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

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