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

Tapia López, 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 Tapia López surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tapia López in America

Tapia López is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tapia López surname appeared 123 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 Tapia López.

The history of the last name Tapia López

The surname TAPIALOPEZ is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. It is a compound surname, formed by the combination of two distinct elements: "Tapia" and "Lopez."

The first part, "Tapia," derives from the Spanish word "tapia," which means "mud wall" or "earthen rampart." This term was commonly used to refer to the fortified walls surrounding towns and cities during medieval times. It is believed that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived near such fortifications or were involved in their construction or maintenance.

The second part of the surname, "Lopez," is a patronymic name derived from the Spanish name "Lope," which itself is a variant of the Germanic name "Loup." Patronymic surnames were adopted to indicate filiation, with "Lopez" meaning "son of Lope" or "son of Loup." This practice of using patronymic surnames was widespread in Spain during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the TAPIALOPEZ surname can be found in the archives of the Kingdom of Aragon, dating back to the 13th century. In these documents, a certain Rodrigo Tapia Lopez is listed as a landowner in the region of Valencia.

During the 15th century, the TAPIALOPEZ name appears in several historical records from the region of Andalusia, particularly in the city of Seville. A notable figure bearing this surname was Hernán Tapia Lopez (1450-1521), a prominent merchant and banker who played a crucial role in financing the voyages of Christopher Columbus.

In the 16th century, the TAPIALOPEZ family established itself in the Spanish colonies of the Americas. Juan Tapia Lopez (1520-1589) was one of the first settlers in the region now known as Mexico, where he became a respected landowner and rancher.

Another notable figure was Catalina Tapia Lopez (1620-1693), a nun and educator who founded one of the earliest schools for girls in the Viceroyalty of Peru. Her contributions to education and social welfare were recognized by the Spanish crown.

During the 18th century, the TAPIALOPEZ surname gained prominence in the field of literature. Miguel Tapia Lopez (1745-1810) was a renowned poet and playwright whose works were widely acclaimed in Spain and its colonies.

Throughout its history, the TAPIALOPEZ surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, clergy, artists, and intellectuals. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Spain, the name has since spread across the globe, carried by generations of TAPIALOPEZ families who have left their mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of many nations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tapia López

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

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 Tapia López 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.

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

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

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