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

Prestegui, 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 Prestegui surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Prestegui in America

Prestegui is the 109758th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Prestegui surname appeared 161 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 Prestegui.

The history of the last name Prestegui

The surname Prestegui is of Spanish origin, derived from the Basque region of northern Spain and southwestern France. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

One theory suggests that the name Prestegui is a combination of the Basque words "preste," meaning priest, and "gui," meaning guide or leader. This could indicate that the original bearer of this surname may have been a prominent priest or religious figure who held a position of authority and guidance within the local community.

Another possibility is that the name is derived from a specific location or place name within the Basque region. It may have originated from a small village or hamlet called Prestegui or a similarly spelled name. In those times, it was common for surnames to be derived from places of origin or residence.

In the 14th century, there are records of a nobleman named Juan Prestegui who was a member of the court of King Alfonso XI of Castile. This early mention of the name suggests that the Prestegui family had already established itself as a respected lineage during that era.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing this surname was Miguel Prestegui, a Basque explorer and navigator who accompanied the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to Mexico. Prestegui played a significant role in the conquest of the Aztec Empire and the establishment of Spanish rule in the region.

Another prominent individual was Pedro Prestegui, a military leader and strategist who served under King Philip III of Spain in the early 17th century. He was renowned for his contributions to the Spanish victory in the Eighty Years' War against the Dutch Republic.

In the realm of literature, the name Prestegui appears in the works of Miguel de Cervantes, the celebrated author of "Don Quixote." In his novel "The Travails of Persiles and Sigismunda," Cervantes mentions a character named Prestegui, suggesting the surname's recognition and usage during the Golden Age of Spanish literature.

Throughout the centuries, the Prestegui surname has maintained its presence and significance within the Basque and Spanish cultures, reflecting a rich historical legacy and a strong connection to the region's past.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Prestegui

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

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

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

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