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

Santiago, 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 Santiago surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Santiago in America

Santiago is the 81181st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Santiago surname appeared 233 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 Santiago.

We can also compare 2010 data for Santiago 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 Santiago

The surname SANTAGO is of Spanish origin and is believed to have originated during the medieval period in the Iberian Peninsula. It is derived from the Spanish word "santo," meaning "saint," combined with the suffix "-ago," which is thought to have been used to denote a place or locality.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname SANTAGO can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various historical documents and records from the regions of Castile and Aragon. It is likely that the name was initially associated with individuals who lived near or were connected to a particular location dedicated to a saint, such as a church, monastery, or settlement.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname SANTAGO was Pedro de SANTAGO, a notable landowner and nobleman who lived in the city of Toledo during the late 13th century. Records from that time indicate that he possessed significant holdings and influence within the region.

In the 15th century, the name SANTAGO gained further prominence with the rise of Juan de SANTAGO, a renowned military commander who played a crucial role in the Reconquista, the centuries-long campaign to expel the Moors from the Iberian Peninsula. Juan de SANTAGO was born in 1412 and died in 1489, and his exploits are well-documented in various historical accounts of that era.

During the 16th century, the surname SANTAGO was associated with several notable figures in the arts and literature. One such individual was María de SANTAGO, a celebrated poet and playwright who was born in Seville in 1521 and passed away in 1592. Her works were widely renowned for their depth and creativity, and she is considered a pioneer of the Spanish Renaissance literary movement.

Another prominent bearer of the SANTAGO surname was Diego de SANTAGO, a skilled architect and engineer who lived from 1540 to 1612. He was responsible for the design and construction of several impressive churches and public buildings throughout Spain, many of which still stand today as testament to his architectural genius.

In the 18th century, the name SANTAGO was carried by Francisco de SANTAGO, a renowned explorer and navigator who embarked on several expeditions to the Americas and the Pacific Ocean. Born in 1702 and dying in 1778, Francisco de SANTAGO made significant contributions to the field of cartography and navigation, charting new territories and expanding the boundaries of the known world.

Throughout its long history, the surname SANTAGO has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, military leaders, artists, architects, and explorers. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Spain, the name has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by descendants and immigrants from the Iberian Peninsula.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Santiago

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

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

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

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