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

Tamayo, 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 Tamayo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tamayo in America

Tamayo is the 2210th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tamayo surname appeared 16,474 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Tamayo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tamayo 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 Tamayo

The surname Tamayo originates from Spain, with its roots traced back to the 8th century during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. It is believed to be derived from the Arabic word "tamr," meaning date palm, suggesting a possible connection to regions known for date cultivation.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Tamayo can be found in medieval Spanish documents, such as the Becerro de las Behetrias de Castilla, a 14th-century manuscript that served as a census of landowners and their properties. Some of the earliest documented individuals bearing the name include Diego Tamayo, a nobleman mentioned in a 1389 royal charter, and Juan Tamayo, a respected scholar from Seville in the late 15th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Tamayo surname gained prominence as several individuals made significant contributions to various fields. One notable figure was Francisco Tamayo de Mendoza (1588-1658), a Spanish poet and dramatist renowned for his works such as "El nacimiento del Alba" and "El Hijo de la Piedra." Another was Juan de Tamayo Salazar (1600-1668), a renowned historian and writer who authored the influential work "Anamnesis, sive Commemoratio omnium sanctorum Hispanorum."

As the Spanish Empire expanded, the Tamayo surname traveled across the Atlantic to the Americas. In Mexico, the name became particularly widespread, with several prominent figures emerging. One such individual was Juan Ignacio María de Castorena y Ursúa Tamayo (1744-1825), a military officer and governor of Nuevo León and Coahuila. Another was Manuel Payno Tamayo (1810-1894), a renowned writer and politician who served as the Minister of Finance under President Benito Juárez.

The Tamayo surname has also left its mark in other parts of the world. In the Philippines, where Spanish influence was significant, the name can be found, with individuals like Benigno S. Aquino Tamayo (1877-1951), a respected educator and author, contributing to the country's intellectual and cultural landscape.

Throughout history, the Tamayo surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, from nobility and military figures to scholars, writers, and artists. While its origins can be traced back to the Moorish occupation of Spain, the name has since spread across continents, carrying with it a rich tapestry of cultural and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tamayo

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

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

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

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