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

Sepúlveda, 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 Sepúlveda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sepúlveda in America

Sepúlveda is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sepúlveda surname appeared 123 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 Sepúlveda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sepúlveda 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 Sepúlveda

The surname Sepulueda has its origins in Spain, with records indicating its presence dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Spanish region of Castile, possibly deriving from the Castilian Spanish phrase "sepultura hueca," which translates to "hollow tomb" or "burial place."

In the late 12th century, a document known as the Becerro de las Behetrías mentions a nobleman named Rodrigo Sepulueda, who held lands in the village of Sepúlveda, located in the province of Segovia. It is likely that the surname Sepulueda evolved from the toponym Sepúlveda, as it was common practice for individuals to adopt place names as surnames during that era.

Notable historical figures bearing the Sepulueda surname include Juan de Sepulueda (1490-1572), a Spanish humanist and theologian who served as a translator and secretary to Pope Clement VII. Another prominent individual was Pedro de Sepulueda (1545-1604), a Spanish historian and author who wrote extensively on the history of Mexico and the conquest of the Aztec Empire.

In the 16th century, records show the presence of the Sepulueda family in the Spanish colonies of the Americas, particularly in Mexico and Peru. One notable figure from this period was Diego de Sepulueda (1570-1638), a Spanish conquistador and explorer who participated in the conquest of Chile and later became a prominent landowner in the region.

Another significant individual was María de Sepulueda (1628-1692), a Spanish nun and mystic who founded the Convent of the Immaculate Conception in Quito, Ecuador. Her writings and teachings on spiritual matters gained her a reputation as a prominent religious figure in colonial South America.

Throughout the centuries, the Sepulueda surname has been associated with various notable individuals across different fields, including literature, academia, and politics. While the exact origins of the name may be debated, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period in Spain, where it was likely derived from a place name or geographic location.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sepúlveda

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

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

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

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