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

Purificación, 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 Purificación surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Purificación in America

Purificación is the 129047th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Purificación surname appeared 132 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 Purificación.

The history of the last name Purificación

The surname Purificacion is of Spanish origin, derived from the Spanish word "purificación," which means "purification." It is believed to have originated in Spain during the medieval period, possibly as a descriptive name for someone associated with religious purity or cleanliness.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Purificacion can be found in the early 16th century in various Spanish documents and records. It is likely that the name was initially adopted by families living in or near regions with churches or monasteries dedicated to the Purification of the Virgin Mary, a significant feast in the Catholic tradition.

During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Purificacion was carried across the Atlantic by Spanish settlers, missionaries, and explorers. It became prevalent in areas with a significant Spanish influence, such as Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America.

Notable individuals with the surname Purificacion throughout history include Fray Francisco de la Purificacion, a Spanish Dominican friar and missionary who lived in the late 16th century and played a role in the early evangelization efforts in Mexico. Another notable figure was Agustín de la Purificacion, a Spanish Carmelite friar and writer who lived in the 17th century and authored several religious works.

In the 18th century, Domingo de la Purificacion, a Spanish painter and engraver, gained recognition for his contributions to the art world. His works can be found in various churches and museums in Spain.

Moving into the 19th century, Tomas de la Purificacion was a Mexican military officer and politician who participated in the Mexican War of Independence and later served as a deputy in the Mexican Congress.

Lastly, in the 20th century, Purificacion Garcia was a renowned Mexican writer and activist who advocated for indigenous rights and the preservation of native languages and cultures in Mexico. She was born in 1920 and passed away in 2019, leaving a lasting legacy in the literary and social spheres.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Purificación

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

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

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

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