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

Santillanes, 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 Santillanes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Santillanes in America

Santillanes is the 17229th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Santillanes surname appeared 1,644 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Santillanes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Santillanes 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 Santillanes

The surname Santillanes has its origins in Spain. It is believed to have originated from the region of Castile, particularly in the province of Santillana del Mar, which is located in the autonomous community of Cantabria. The name is derived from the Latin word "sanctus" meaning "holy" and the Spanish word "llano" meaning "plain" or "flat". This suggests that the name may have referred to a holy or sacred plain or area.

During the Middle Ages, the name Santillanes appeared in various historical records and documents. One notable reference is found in the "Libro de la Montería" (Book of the Hunt), a 14th-century manuscript commissioned by King Alfonso XI of Castile, which mentions individuals bearing the Santillanes surname. This suggests that the name was already established in Castile by that time.

The earliest known individual with the surname Santillanes was Diego de Santillanes, a prominent Spanish nobleman and diplomat who lived in the 15th century (1390-1458). He served as a counselor to King Juan II of Castile and was an influential figure in the cultural and literary circles of his time, known for his patronage of scholars and poets.

Another notable figure with the Santillanes surname was Íñigo López de Santillanes, a Spanish nobleman and military leader who participated in the Reconquista, the struggle to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. He lived in the 15th century and played a crucial role in the conquest of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain.

In the 16th century, the Santillanes surname gained further prominence with the explorer and navigator Pedro de Santillanes, who was born in Andalusia around 1500. He participated in several expeditions to the New World and is believed to have been one of the first Spaniards to explore what is now the Gulf Coast of the United States.

The surname Santillanes can also be traced back to the town of Santillana del Mar in Cantabria, which was known for its historic significance and architectural heritage. Some notable individuals from this region include María Santillanes, a 17th-century writer and poet, and Juan Santillanes, a 19th-century painter and artist known for his depictions of rural life in Cantabria.

It is important to note that the spelling of the surname has evolved over time, and variations such as Santillán, Santillan, and Santillán have been recorded throughout history. Additionally, the name may have been influenced by the presence of place names or locations with similar spellings, such as Santillana de la Mar or Santillana del Campo.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Santillanes

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

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

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

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