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

Saavedra, 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 Saavedra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Saavedra in America

Saavedra is the 56588th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Saavedra surname appeared 361 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 Saavedra.

We can also compare 2010 data for Saavedra 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 Saavedra

The surname SAABEDRA has its origins in Spain, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the region of Castile, derived from the Spanish word "sabedora," meaning "a wise or knowledgeable woman." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone known for their wisdom or erudition.

In early records, the name appears with various spellings, such as Saavedra, Sabedra, and Saabedra. One of the earliest documented instances of the name is found in the 13th-century manuscript "Cantigas de Santa Maria," a collection of poems and songs dedicated to the Virgin Mary, commissioned by King Alfonso X of Castile.

The name gained prominence in the 15th century with the birth of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616), widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and the author of the renowned novel "Don Quixote." His legacy solidified the reputation of the Saavedra surname as a symbol of literary excellence.

Another notable figure bearing the name was Juan de Saavedra Valderrama (1591-1667), a Spanish diplomat and political theorist. His work "Idea de un príncipe político-cristiano" (The Idea of a Christian-Political Prince) was widely influential in its time and contributed to the development of political philosophy.

In the realm of exploration, Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca (c. 1490-1559), a Spanish explorer and author, is remembered for his chronicles of the ill-fated Narváez expedition to Florida and his subsequent eight-year journey across the American Southwest. His surname, Cabeza de Vaca, translates to "head of a cow," highlighting the significance of animal names in Spanish surnames.

The Saabedra name also has ties to the military, with Miguel Saavedra y Ramírez de Baquedano (1756-1824), a Spanish general who fought in the Peninsular War against the French invasion. His bravery and leadership during this conflict earned him the title of "Duke of Rivas."

While the name's prominence in Spain is well-documented, it has also spread to other parts of the world, particularly to Latin American countries, due to Spanish colonization and migration. The variations in spelling, such as Sabedra and Saabedra, reflect the influence of local dialects and pronunciation patterns.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Saavedra

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

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

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

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