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

Tangonan, 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 Tangonan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tangonan in America

Tangonan is the 39607th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tangonan surname appeared 555 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Tangonan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tangonan 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 Tangonan

The surname Tangonan originates from the Philippines and is believed to have its roots in the Ilocano language, which is spoken primarily in the northern regions of the country. It is thought to be derived from the word "tango," which means "to pray" or "to worship," and the suffix "-an," which denotes a place or location.

In the early 16th century, when the Spanish colonized the Philippines, many Filipinos were required to adopt Spanish surnames for record-keeping purposes. It is possible that the name Tangonan emerged during this time as a way to identify a particular family or clan associated with a place of worship or religious significance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tangonan can be found in the baptismal records of the Catholic Church in the province of Ilocos Norte, dating back to the late 1700s. These records often included the names of individuals, their parents, and sometimes their place of origin, providing valuable insights into the history and distribution of the name.

Notable individuals with the surname Tangonan throughout history include Juan Tangonan (1845-1912), a prominent farmer and landowner in the town of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, who was instrumental in the establishment of the local agricultural cooperative. Another individual of significance was Maria Tangonan (1870-1943), a renowned weaver and embroiderer from the town of Vigan, whose intricate works were highly sought after and contributed to the preservation of traditional Filipino textile arts.

In the late 19th century, a prominent family with the surname Tangonan was recorded in the town of Badoc, Ilocos Norte. This family was known for their involvement in local politics and community leadership. One member, Pedro Tangonan (1882-1961), served as the town's mayor for several terms and was instrumental in the development of the local infrastructure and educational system.

During the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule in the late 19th century, there are records of a Gregorio Tangonan (1865-1901) who fought alongside other Filipino revolutionaries in the province of Ilocos Norte. His bravery and commitment to the cause of independence were documented in various historical accounts of the time.

Another notable figure was Luisa Tangonan (1920-2005), a respected educator and advocate for women's rights in the mid-20th century. She dedicated her life to promoting educational opportunities for underprivileged children and empowering women through various social and economic initiatives in her community.

While these are just a few examples, the surname Tangonan has a rich history and legacy in the Philippines, particularly in the northern region of Ilocos Norte, where it has been a prominent name for generations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tangonan

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

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

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

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