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

Selaya, 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 Selaya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Selaya in America

Selaya is the 103655th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Selaya surname appeared 173 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 Selaya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Selaya 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 Selaya

The surname SELAYA has its origins in Spain, and it is believed to have emerged in the 14th century. The name is derived from the Spanish word "selaya," which means "valley" or "low-lying area." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to people who lived in or were associated with a particular valley or lowland region.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the SELAYA surname can be found in a document from the province of Cantabria in northern Spain, dated around the year 1380. The document refers to a certain "Juan de Selaya," indicating that the name was already in use at that time.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the SELAYA surname appears to have spread across various parts of Spain, particularly in regions such as Cantabria, Asturias, and parts of Castile. Several individuals bearing this surname were noted in historical records from this period, including Pedro Selaya, a merchant who lived in Santander in the late 15th century, and Alonso Selaya, a soldier who served in the Spanish army during the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century.

In the 17th century, there are records of a prominent family with the SELAYA surname in the town of Liébana, located in the Cantabrian mountains. This family was involved in local politics and is believed to have held positions of influence within the community.

One notable figure with the SELAYA surname was Francisco Selaya, born in 1712 in Liébana. He was a respected scholar and author who wrote several works on theology and philosophy. Another individual of note was Juana Selaya, born in 1789 in Santander, who was a renowned painter known for her portraits and religious works.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the SELAYA surname continued to be present in various parts of Spain, with some individuals emigrating to other countries, such as Mexico and Argentina, where they established new branches of the family.

Overall, the surname SELAYA has a long and rich history in Spain, particularly in the northern regions, and it is closely tied to the geographic and cultural heritage of these areas. Despite its relatively uncommon occurrence, the name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, soldiers, scholars, and artists, contributing to the diversity of its legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Selaya

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

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

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

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