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

Salazar, 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 Salazar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Salazar in America

Salazar is the 179th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Salazar surname appeared 152,703 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 52 people would have the surname Salazar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Salazar 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 Salazar

The surname Salazar has its origins in Spain, and it can be traced back to the medieval period, specifically the 11th and 12th centuries. The name is derived from the Spanish word "salazar," which means "a place where salt is obtained or processed." It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to a person who lived near or worked in a salt-producing area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Salazar name can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrias, a medieval document from the 14th century that recorded the names of landowners and their properties. The document mentions several individuals with the surname Salazar, indicating that the name was already established by that time.

In the 15th century, the Salazar family played a significant role in the history of Spain. Juan de Salazar (c. 1430-1497) was a renowned Spanish soldier who served under King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile. He participated in the Reconquista, the campaign to expel the Moors from the Iberian Peninsula, and was instrumental in the conquest of Granada in 1492.

Another notable figure with the Salazar surname was Pedro de Salazar y Mendoza (1549-1629), a Spanish historian and writer. He authored several works, including the "Crónica de la Provincia de Castilla," which documented the history of the Castilian region.

In the 16th century, the name Salazar also found its way to the Americas during the Spanish colonization. One of the earliest examples is Juan de Salazar de Espinosa (c. 1508-1594), a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico and later became the governor of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Another notable figure from this period was Pedro de Salazar (c. 1510-1576), a Spanish conquistador and explorer who served under Francisco Pizarro and played a crucial role in the conquest of Peru.

Throughout history, the Salazar name has been associated with various place names and older spellings. For example, the town of Salazar de las Palmas in Spain was once known as "Salazar de las Palmas de Tera," reflecting its connection to the salt-producing industry.

In conclusion, the surname Salazar has a rich history deeply rooted in Spain's medieval past, with connections to the salt-producing industry, military conquests, and exploration during the colonial era. It has left an indelible mark on history through the achievements of individuals such as Juan de Salazar, Pedro de Salazar y Mendoza, Juan de Salazar de Espinosa, and Pedro de Salazar, among others.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Salazar

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

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

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

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