Quesada
A habitational surname referring to someone from any of the various places in Spain named Quesada, meaning "cheese factory."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 9,152 Americans carry the last name Quesada. That puts it at #4,509 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.67 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 37,451 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Quesada surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
9.2K
1 in 37,451
Census rank
#4,509
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
7.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 7,870 bearers of the surname Quesada in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.67 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 4509th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Quesada, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 86.2%. The next largest groups are White (9.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Quesada
The surname Quesada is of Spanish origin, derived from the word "quesada" which translates to "cheese-maker" or "cheese seller." It likely emerged during the medieval period in Spain, potentially in regions known for their cheese production.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Quesada can be traced back to the 13th century. One notable example is Juan Quesada, a nobleman and military leader who fought in the Reconquista against the Moors in the late 13th century.
In the 15th century, the Quesada family gained prominence in the city of Granada, with several members holding influential positions within the local government and nobility. Alonso de Quesada, born in 1472, was a renowned explorer and conquistador who led expeditions into present-day Colombia and Venezuela.
The surname Quesada is also associated with the town of Quesada, located in the province of Jaén, Andalusia. It is believed that some early bearers of the surname may have originated from or had ties to this town. The town's name itself is derived from the Arabic word "qaysadah," meaning "long and narrow."
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Quesada is Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, born in 1509. He was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who led the Spanish conquest of the Muisca Confederation, establishing the settlement that would become Bogotá, Colombia.
Other notable individuals with the surname Quesada include:
1. Antonio de Quesada y Acuña (1508-1576), a Spanish military commander and Governor of the Philippines.
2. Vicente Quesada (1817-1878), an Argentine writer, historian, and journalist.
3. Ernesto Quesada (1858-1934), an Argentine intellectual, lawyer, and sociologist.
4. Gonzalo Quesada (born 1974), an Argentine former rugby union player and current coach.
The surname Quesada has also been documented in various historical records and manuscripts throughout Spain, Latin America, and other regions influenced by Spanish colonization and migration.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Quesada
Among Census respondents with the surname Quesada, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 86.2%. The next largest groups are White (9.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Quesada bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Quesada surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino86.2%
- White9.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
- Two or more races0.4%
- Black or African American0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Quesada surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,880 | #4,509 | 7.6% |
| Count | 6,603 | 7,870 | 19.2% |
| Per 100K | 2.45 | 2.67 | 9.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Quesada bearers went from 6,603 to 7,870 (+19.2% change). The surname moved up 371 positions in the national ranking, going from #4,880 to #4,509.
FAQ
Quesada surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Quesada?
The surname Quesada holds position #4,509 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 9,152 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.67 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Quesada surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Quesada, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 86.2%. The next largest groups are White (9.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.