2000
#8,321
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,660
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.36
Rare Last name
Sigala
A Spanish habitational surname derived from a place name of pre-Roman origin, possibly meaning "victory stone."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,325 Americans carry the last name Sigala. That puts it at #6,972 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.55 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 64,367 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sigala surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
5.3K
1 in 64,367
Census rank
#6,972
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,644 bearers of the surname Sigala in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.55 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6972nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sigala, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 93.9%. The next largest groups are White (4.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sigala
The surname SIGALA originated in Spain, with roots that can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "sigillum," which means "seal" or "stamp," suggesting a connection to a family or individual involved in the sealing or stamping of documents.
The earliest known records of the name SIGALA can be found in the Aragonese region of Spain, particularly in the areas around Zaragoza and Huesca. In the 13th century, a nobleman named Pedro Sigala was mentioned in several historical documents, serving as a trusted advisor to King James I of Aragon.
During the 15th century, the name SIGALA appeared in various municipal records and property deeds in the city of Seville, indicating the family's presence in southern Spain. One notable individual from this era was Gonzalo Sigala, a wealthy merchant who owned several trading vessels and participated in the lucrative spice trade between Spain and the East Indies.
As the Spanish empire expanded its reach across the Atlantic, the SIGALA surname found its way to the Americas. In the 16th century, a conquistador named Juan Sigala was among the early settlers in Mexico, where he established a hacienda and became a prominent figure in the region's agricultural industry.
The 17th century saw the birth of Diego Sigala (1600-1675), a renowned Spanish painter known for his religious works and portraits. His artistry was celebrated in his lifetime, and his paintings can still be found in various churches and museums across Spain.
Another notable figure bearing the SIGALA surname was Mariano Sigala (1779-1848), a Spanish military officer who fought in the Peninsular War against the French forces of Napoleon. He rose through the ranks and was awarded several honors for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.
As the name SIGALA spread throughout Spain and its colonies, variations in spelling emerged, such as Sigales, Sigalla, and Sigal. Additionally, some instances of the surname were found in regions of Portugal, likely due to the close proximity and historical ties between the two Iberian nations.
Overall, the surname SIGALA has a rich history deeply rooted in the cultural and historical fabric of Spain, with its origins dating back to the 12th century. Throughout the centuries, individuals bearing this name have made significant contributions in various fields, from the arts and military to trade and exploration.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sigala
Among Census respondents with the surname Sigala, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 93.9%. The next largest groups are White (4.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Sigala bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Sigala surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino93.9% · 4,359
- White4.7% · 219
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 21
- Black or African American0.3% · 15
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3% · 15
- Two or more races0.3% · 15
Timeline
Historical Census data for Sigala
Sigala appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#6,965
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,817
+1,157 bearers (+31.6%)
Per 100,000 1.63
Rank movement Up 1,356 places
2020
#6,972
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,644
-173 bearers (-3.6%)
Per 100,000 1.55
Rank movement Down 7 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #8,321 | 3,660 | 1.36 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #6,965 | 4,817 | 1.63 | +1,157 bearers (+31.6%) | Up 1,356 places |
| 2020 | #6,972 | 4,644 | 1.55 | -173 bearers (-3.6%) | Down 7 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Sigala surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,965 | #6,972 | -0.1% |
| Count | 4,817 | 4,644 | -3.6% |
| Per 100K | 1.63 | 1.55 | -4.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Sigala bearers went from 4,817 to 4,644 (-3.6% change). The surname moved down 7 positions in the national ranking, going from #6,965 to #6,972.
FAQ
Sigala surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Sigala?
Name Census estimates that about 5,325 living Americans carry the surname Sigala. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 64,367 residents.
How common is Sigala?
Sigala ranks #6,972 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.55 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 4,644 people with the surname Sigala. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (5,325), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.55 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.55 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Sigala.
Has Sigala become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Sigala went from 4,817 recorded bearers to 4,644. That is a decrease of 173 (-3.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #6,965 to #6,972.
What does the Census say about the background of Sigala?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sigala, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 93.9%. The next largest groups are White (4.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Sigala in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.9% (4,359 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Sigala appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (93.9%), White (4.7%), American Indian/Alaska Native (0.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Sigala (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Sigala mean?
A Spanish habitational surname derived from a place name of pre-Roman origin, possibly meaning "victory stone." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Sigala (1.55 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Sigala?
Find out how many Americans have the surname Sigala on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.