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

Solares, 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 Solares surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Solares in America

Solares is the 8629th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Solares surname appeared 3,812 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Solares.

We can also compare 2010 data for Solares 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 Solares

The surname Solares is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in Spain. It is believed to have derived from the word "solar," which referred to a plot of land or a building site. This connection suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived on or owned a particular piece of land.

In the early days of surname formation, many names were based on occupations, locations, or physical characteristics. The name Solares likely originated as a descriptive term for individuals residing on a specific plot of land or having a connection to a particular solar or building site.

While no definitive historical records or manuscripts have been found that directly reference the earliest use of the surname Solares, it is probable that it emerged during the 12th or 13th centuries, when the practice of adopting hereditary surnames became more widespread in Spain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Solares can be found in the 14th century, when a nobleman named Juan de Solares is mentioned in documents relating to the Kingdom of Castile. This Juan de Solares was a prominent figure in the court of King Alfonso XI, who reigned from 1312 to 1350.

Another notable individual bearing the surname Solares was Pedro de Solares, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. Pedro de Solares played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of the Caribbean islands.

In the 16th century, a man named Diego de Solares was a renowned architect and engineer who contributed to the construction of several important buildings in Spain, including the Cathedral of Seville and the Alcázar of Seville.

During the 17th century, a literary figure named Alonso de Solares gained recognition for his works, which included plays and poetry. He was born in Madrid in 1587 and is considered one of the notable writers of the Spanish Golden Age.

Lastly, in the 19th century, a prominent military figure named Manuel Solares y Solares distinguished himself during the Peninsular War against Napoleon's forces. He rose through the ranks and became a highly respected general, playing a crucial role in several battles that ultimately led to the expulsion of French troops from Spain.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the surname Solares, highlighting its rich heritage and diverse backgrounds.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Solares

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

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

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

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