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

Rengifo, 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 Rengifo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rengifo in America

Rengifo is the 23167th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rengifo surname appeared 1,101 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 Rengifo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rengifo 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 Rengifo

The surname Rengifo has its origins in the Spanish region of Galicia during the 13th century. It is derived from the Galician words "rengo" and "ifo," which translate to "lame" and "son," respectively. This suggests that the name may have been a descriptive surname given to someone who had a limp or a physical impediment.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Rengifo surname can be found in the medieval census records of the village of Padrón in Galicia, dating back to the year 1287. The name was spelled "Rengio" at the time, which was a common variant in the region.

In the 15th century, the Rengifo family had established themselves as landed gentry in the town of Noia, also in Galicia. Notable members of the family during this period include Pedro Rengifo (1470-1532), a respected scholar and poet, and Inés Rengifo (1492-1568), who was known for her philanthropic work in the region.

As the Spanish Empire expanded its reach across the globe, the Rengifo name traveled with it. In the 16th century, Juan Rengifo (1518-1594) was a prominent explorer and navigator who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to Mexico. He is credited with mapping some of the earliest charts of the Gulf of Mexico.

During the colonial era, the Rengifo surname took root in various parts of Latin America, particularly in Peru and Ecuador. One of the most famous individuals with this name was José Joaquín de Rengifo y Sotomayor (1677-1744), a Spanish-born Peruvian priest and historian who wrote extensively about the indigenous cultures of the Andes region.

In the 19th century, Miguel Rengifo (1825-1892) was a celebrated Ecuadorian painter and sculptor who played a significant role in the development of the country's artistic traditions. His works can be found in many of Ecuador's most prestigious museums and galleries.

Throughout its long history, the Rengifo surname has been associated with a diverse range of individuals, from noblemen and scholars to explorers and artists. Despite its humble origins as a descriptive surname, the name has come to represent a rich cultural heritage and a fascinating journey across continents and centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rengifo

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

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

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

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