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

Saldaña, 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 Saldaña surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Saldaña in America

Saldaña is the 123796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Saldaña surname appeared 139 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 Saldaña.

We can also compare 2010 data for Saldaña 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 Saldaña

The surname Saldania has its origins in Spain, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish place name "Saldaña," a town located in the province of Palencia, in the northern region of Castile and León. The name Saldaña itself may have evolved from the Latin word "saltus," meaning a wooded area or a forest.

One of the earliest known references to the Saldania surname can be found in a manuscript from the year 1264, which mentions a certain "Pedro de Saldania" as a landowner in the region of Palencia. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the area during that time period.

In the 15th century, records show a nobleman named Juan de Saldania who served as a captain in the Spanish army during the Reconquista, the struggle to drive out the Moors from the Iberian Peninsula. His bravery and military exploits were celebrated in several contemporary chronicles.

The Saldania name also has a connection to the Spanish exploration and colonization of the Americas. In the late 16th century, a man named Diego de Saldania was part of an expedition that explored and mapped parts of present-day Argentina and Chile. His detailed accounts of the region's geography and indigenous peoples are considered valuable historical documents.

Another notable figure was María de Saldania, a 17th-century poet and playwright from Seville, whose works were highly acclaimed during her lifetime. Her plays often explored themes of love, honor, and societal norms, reflecting the cultural and artistic currents of the Spanish Golden Age.

In the 18th century, a prominent architect named Tomás de Saldania was responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in Madrid and other Spanish cities. His works, characterized by their ornate Baroque style, are still admired today for their intricate craftsmanship and attention to detail.

While the Saldania surname has its roots in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through Spanish migration and colonization. However, its historical origins and connections to places like Saldaña, as well as the notable individuals who bore this name, remain an integral part of its rich heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Saldaña

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

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

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

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