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

Selca, 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 Selca surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Selca in America

Selca is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Selca surname appeared 114 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 Selca.

The history of the last name Selca

The surname SELCA has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the region of Galicia in northwestern Spain. It dates back to the 12th century and is thought to derive from the Galician word "selca," meaning a rocky crag or steep cliff. This suggests that the name may have originally been a topographic surname, given to someone who lived near or was associated with such a geographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SELCA can be found in a medieval Galician document from the year 1237, which mentions a landowner named Rodrigo Selca. This provides evidence that the name was already established in the region by the 13th century.

In the late 15th century, a nobleman named Juan Selca was recorded as serving in the court of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. He was a high-ranking military officer and played a significant role in the Reconquista, the Christian conquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors.

During the 16th century, the SELCA surname began to spread beyond Galicia as a result of Spanish colonization and exploration. One notable figure was Pedro Selca, a conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in 1519. Pedro Selca was among the first Europeans to set foot in the Valley of Mexico and witness the grandeur of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan.

In the 17th century, a prominent theologian and philosopher named Tomás Selca (1585-1653) gained recognition for his scholarly works on theology and metaphysics. He was a professor at the University of Salamanca and his writings were widely influential in academic circles across Europe.

Another figure of note was Isadora Selca (1678-1742), a Spanish painter renowned for her portraits and religious works. She was one of the few female artists of her time to achieve widespread recognition and her paintings can be found in museums and churches throughout Spain.

While the surname SELCA originated in Galicia, it eventually spread to other parts of Spain and the Americas through migration and colonial expansions. However, its roots can be traced back to the rugged landscape of northwestern Spain, where the name was likely first bestowed upon those living near rocky cliffs or crags.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Selca

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

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 Selca 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.

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

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

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