Tambor
A surname derived from the Spanish word for "drum" or "drummer".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Tambor. That puts it at #91,221 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Tambor surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#91,221
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
202
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 202 bearers of the surname Tambor in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 91221st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Tambor, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (3.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Tambor
The surname "TAMBOR" originated in Spain during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Spanish word "tambor," which means "drum" or "drummer." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who played the drum or was involved in the making of drums.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname "TAMBOR" can be found in the 13th century, in the region of Andalusia, Spain. It is believed that the name may have been associated with the Moorish influence in that area during that time period.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname "TAMBOR" was Juan Tambor, a drummer in the court of King Alfonso X of Castile, who reigned from 1252 to 1284. Records show that Juan Tambor was responsible for providing music during royal ceremonies and events.
In the 15th century, the name "TAMBOR" appeared in the records of the Spanish Inquisition. A man named Pedro Tambor was accused of being a crypto-Jew and was subjected to interrogation by the Inquisition in 1492.
During the 16th century, the surname "TAMBOR" began to spread beyond Spain as a result of the Spanish colonization of the Americas. One notable figure was Hernando Tambor, a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico in the 1520s.
In the 17th century, a famous figure with the surname "TAMBOR" was Diego Tambor, a Spanish playwright and poet who lived from 1620 to 1690. His works were performed in the court of King Philip IV and helped to shape the Golden Age of Spanish literature.
Another individual with the surname "TAMBOR" was María Tambor, a Spanish nun who lived in the 18th century. She was known for her work in establishing schools and orphanages in the city of Seville, and her efforts to educate and care for underprivileged children.
As the centuries passed, the surname "TAMBOR" continued to be found in various regions of Spain, as well as in Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, where it was carried by immigrants and settlers from Spain.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Tambor
Among Census respondents with the surname Tambor, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (3.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Tambor bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Tambor surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Tambor surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #91,221 | #91,221 | 0.0% |
| Count | 202 | 202 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Tambor bearers went from 202 to 202 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #91,221 to #91,221.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Tambor
FAQ
Tambor surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Tambor?
The surname Tambor holds position #91,221 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Tambor surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Tambor, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (3.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.