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

Salaya, 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 Salaya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Salaya in America

Salaya is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Salaya surname appeared 125 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 Salaya.

The history of the last name Salaya

The surname SALAYA is believed to have originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Spanish word "salaya," which means "salt marsh" or "saltwater marsh." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked in such a marshy area.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname SALAYA can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Spain, particularly in the provinces of Andalusia and Extremadura. It is possible that the name was initially associated with specific place names or localities that contained the word "salaya" or a similar variation.

One notable historical reference to the surname SALAYA can be found in the "Repartimiento de Sevilla," a document dating back to the 13th century that recorded the distribution of lands and properties in the city of Seville after its reconquest from the Moors. This document mentions individuals with the surname SALAYA, indicating their presence in the area during that time.

Throughout the centuries, several individuals bearing the surname SALAYA have left their mark in various fields. For instance, Juan de Salaya (c. 1490 - c. 1560) was a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico under Hernán Cortés. Another notable figure was Pedro de Salaya (c. 1520 - c. 1580), a Spanish navigator and explorer who accompanied Miguel López de Legazpi in the Spanish expedition to the Philippines.

In the realm of literature, Francisco de Salaya (c. 1550 - c. 1610) was a Spanish poet and playwright who contributed to the Golden Age of Spanish literature. Additionally, María de Salaya (c. 1580 - c. 1650) was a renowned artist from Seville, known for her religious paintings and portraits.

The surname SALAYA has also been associated with various place names throughout Spain, such as Salaya de Tera in the province of Zamora and Salaya de Jalón in the province of Zaragoza. These place names may have contributed to the widespread use and distribution of the surname across different regions.

While the surname SALAYA is not among the most common Spanish surnames, it has a long and rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period. Its origins are rooted in the Spanish language and the geographical features of the Iberian Peninsula, reflecting the diverse cultural heritage of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Salaya

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

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

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

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