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

Polanco, 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 Polanco surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Polanco in America

Polanco is the 1820th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Polanco surname appeared 19,688 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 7 people would have the surname Polanco.

We can also compare 2010 data for Polanco 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 Polanco

The surname Polanco is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the place name Polanco, a town located in the Cantabria region of northern Spain, near the city of Santander.

The name Polanco itself is believed to have its origins in the Latin word "poplicus," meaning "of the people" or "public." This suggests that the place name may have referred to a settlement or area that belonged to the community or was open for public use.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Polanco can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrías, a medieval census document from the 14th century. This record lists various landholdings and properties in the region, including those associated with the Polanco family.

During the 16th century, the Polanco name gained prominence in Spain, particularly in the realm of exploration and conquest. Diego García de Polanco, a Spanish explorer and conquistador, accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in the early 1500s and played a significant role in the conquest of the Aztec Empire.

Another notable figure with the Polanco surname was Juan Alfonso Polanco, a Spanish military officer and poet who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is known for his participation in various military campaigns and for his poetic works, which provide insights into the literary and cultural life of his time.

In the 17th century, the Polanco name surfaced in the records of the Spanish Inquisition, with Juan de Polanco y Santillana being a prominent figure. He served as the Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Inquisition and was instrumental in maintaining the organization's records and correspondence.

Moving forward to the 18th century, Fray Pedro Polanco, a Spanish Franciscan friar and missionary, played a significant role in the evangelization efforts in the Americas. He established missions and worked tirelessly to convert indigenous populations to Christianity in various regions of present-day Mexico and the southwestern United States.

In the 19th century, Manuel Polanco y Rojas, a Spanish politician and lawyer, made his mark as a prominent figure in the liberal movement of Spain. He was a vocal advocate for constitutional reforms and played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of his time.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the Polanco surname throughout history, reflecting the name's deep roots in Spanish culture and its association with exploration, conquest, religion, literature, and political movements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Polanco

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

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

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

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