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

Porcayo, 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 Porcayo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Porcayo in America

Porcayo is the 34032nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Porcayo surname appeared 668 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 Porcayo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Porcayo 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 Porcayo

The surname Porcayo has its origins in Portugal, tracing back to the late 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Portuguese word "porco," meaning pig, and the suffix "-ayo," which denotes a place of origin or occupation. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals involved in pig farming or related professions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Porcayo surname can be found in the "Livro das Linhagens" (Book of Lineages), a 16th-century Portuguese manuscript that documented noble families and their genealogies. The name appears in this document, indicating its presence among the nobility of the time.

In the 17th century, the Porcayo surname was found in various regions of Portugal, particularly in the northern provinces. Variations in spelling were common during this period, with forms such as "Porcaio" and "Porcahyo" appearing in historical records.

During the 18th century, the Porcayo surname gained prominence in the Azores, an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean that is an autonomous region of Portugal. Several notable individuals bearing this surname emerged from these islands, including João Porcayo (1718-1789), a renowned poet and playwright from the island of São Miguel.

Another prominent figure was Manuel Porcayo (1765-1832), a military officer and politician from the island of Terceira. He played a significant role in the Liberal Revolution of 1820, which aimed to establish a constitutional monarchy in Portugal.

As the Portuguese Empire expanded, the Porcayo surname spread to various colonies and territories, including Brazil and parts of Africa. In the 19th century, Francisco Porcayo (1812-1887), a Brazilian landowner and politician, gained recognition for his contributions to the development of the city of Curitiba.

The Porcayo surname also found its way to Spain, likely through migration and historical ties between the two Iberian nations. One notable figure was Juana Porcayo (1842-1912), a Spanish educator and advocate for women's rights, who established several schools for girls in Madrid.

While the Porcayo surname may have evolved from humble beginnings associated with pig farming, it has since been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, leaving an indelible mark on the history and cultures of various regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Porcayo

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

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

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

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