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

Santoyo, 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 Santoyo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Santoyo in America

Santoyo is the 4086th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Santoyo surname appeared 8,692 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Santoyo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Santoyo 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 Santoyo

The surname Santoyo originates from Spain, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish toponym "Santo Yo," which translates to "Holy Yew Tree." This suggests that the name may have originated from a particular location or region where a significant yew tree, possibly with sacred or religious significance, existed.

During the medieval period, many Spanish surnames were derived from topographic features, landmarks, or specific locations associated with an individual's place of origin or residence. The name Santoyo likely followed this naming convention, indicating a connection to a place where a revered yew tree stood.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Santoyo can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrías, a 14th-century manuscript that documented the rights and privileges of various villages and townships in medieval Castile. This historical document includes references to individuals bearing the surname Santoyo, suggesting its presence in the region during that time.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Juan de Santoyo served as a royal scribe and secretary to King Juan II of Castile. Born around 1390, Juan de Santoyo played a significant role in the royal court, documenting important events and correspondence during his tenure.

Another prominent individual with the Santoyo surname was Diego de Santoyo, a Spanish explorer and conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés in the early 16th century. Diego de Santoyo was born in Seville around 1495 and played a crucial role in several expeditions and battles during the Spanish colonization of the Americas.

In the 17th century, Pedro de Santoyo y Molina, a Spanish theologian and writer, gained recognition for his work titled "Árbol de la Vida" (Tree of Life), published in 1671. Pedro de Santoyo y Molina was born in Madrid in 1632 and contributed significantly to the religious and philosophical discourse of his time.

Another notable figure was José María Santoyo, a Spanish politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of State during the reign of King Ferdinand VII in the early 19th century. Born in Seville in 1778, José María Santoyo played a crucial role in the political landscape of Spain during a turbulent period of its history.

Throughout the centuries, the Santoyo surname has been associated with various historical figures, reflecting its Spanish origins and the diverse roles and contributions of individuals bearing this name across different fields and eras.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Santoyo

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

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

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

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