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

Tapias, 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 Tapias surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tapias in America

Tapias is the 94311th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tapias surname appeared 194 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 Tapias.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tapias 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 Tapias

The surname Tapias is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in the Iberian Peninsula. Tapias is derived from the Spanish word "tapia," which means a mud or earth wall, particularly those found in fortifications or enclosures. This suggests that the name may have originated from individuals who lived near or were associated with such structures.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tapias can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrías de Castilla, a 14th-century manuscript that documented the relationships between the Castilian nobility and their vassals. This historical record mentions individuals with the surname Tapias residing in various regions of present-day Spain.

During the 15th century, Juan de Tapias, a prominent figure in the court of King Juan II of Castile, gained recognition for his role as a diplomat and ambassador. He was instrumental in negotiating treaties and representing the Crown in important matters of state.

In the 16th century, the name Tapias appeared in various chronicles and records related to the Spanish conquest and colonization of the Americas. One noteworthy individual was Fernán de Tapias, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru alongside Francisco Pizarro in the 1530s.

The 17th century saw the rise of Diego de Tapias y Valdés, a Spanish military officer and governor of several provinces in the Spanish Empire. He was known for his campaigns against indigenous uprisings and his efforts to maintain Spanish control over vast territories.

In the realm of literature, the Spanish poet and playwright José de Tapias y Ledesma, born in 1651, achieved recognition for his contributions to the Spanish Golden Age. His works, including plays and poetry, explored themes of love, honor, and societal norms.

As the Tapias surname spread across the Spanish-speaking world, it became associated with various place names and regions. For instance, in Mexico, there is a town called Tapias de Rodríguez, which likely derived its name from early settlers or landowners bearing the Tapias surname.

Throughout history, the Tapias name has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from nobility and military leaders to artists and writers, reflecting the rich tapestry of Spanish culture and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tapias

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

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

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

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