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

Tafolla, 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 Tafolla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tafolla in America

Tafolla is the 9114th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tafolla surname appeared 3,584 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 Tafolla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tafolla 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 Tafolla

The surname Tafolla originated in Spain and has its roots in the Castilian language. It is believed to be derived from the Spanish word "tafallo," which means a small hill or mound. The name may have been initially given as a descriptive term to someone who lived near or on a small hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tafolla can be found in the medieval records of the Kingdom of Castile and León, dating back to the 13th century. These records often referred to individuals by their place of origin or residence, and the name Tafolla was likely associated with a specific location or region within the kingdom.

During the 15th century, as the Spanish Empire expanded and colonization efforts took place, the surname Tafolla likely spread to various parts of the New World. Historical documents from this period may contain references to individuals bearing this surname, particularly in areas with significant Spanish influence and settlement.

In the 16th century, Juan Tafolla, a Spanish explorer and soldier, played a notable role in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés. His participation in these events likely contributed to the dissemination of the surname Tafolla throughout the regions conquered by the Spanish conquistadors.

Another prominent figure associated with the surname Tafolla was Inés Tafolla, a renowned Spanish poet and playwright from the 17th century. Born in 1642 in Seville, Spain, she gained recognition for her literary works, which explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition.

In the 18th century, Pedro Tafolla, a Spanish nobleman and landowner, held significant influence and wealth in the region of Andalusia. Historical records from this period may contain references to his family's holdings and activities.

As time progressed, the surname Tafolla continued to spread and evolve, with variations in spelling and pronunciation emerging in different regions and cultures. Despite these changes, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in its Spanish heritage and association with small hills or mounds.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tafolla

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

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

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

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