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

Tarasco, 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 Tarasco surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tarasco in America

Tarasco is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tarasco surname appeared 103 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 Tarasco.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tarasco 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 Tarasco

The surname Tarasco is believed to have originated from the Tarascan people, an indigenous group native to the present-day Mexican state of Michoacán. The name likely emerged during the period of Spanish colonization in the 16th century.

The Tarascan people, also known as the Purépecha, had a rich cultural heritage and were renowned for their skilled artisanry and architectural achievements, such as the construction of the impressive pyramids at Tzintzuntzan. The name Tarasco is thought to be a Spanish adaptation of the term used to refer to the Tarascan people and their language.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tarasco can be found in the "Relaciones Geográficas" (Geographic Relations), a compilation of reports from the Spanish colonial authorities in the late 16th century. These documents provide valuable insights into the indigenous populations and their way of life during that time.

Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Tarasco was Pedro Tarasco, a renowned artist and sculptor from the 17th century. His exceptional skills in woodcarving and stone sculpting were highly regarded, and his works adorned various churches and buildings in Michoacán.

Another prominent figure was Juan Tarasco, a Tarascan leader who played a significant role in the resistance against Spanish colonization in the 16th century. His valiant efforts to defend his people's lands and traditions earned him a place in the historical records of the region.

In the 18th century, María Tarasco, a skilled weaver and textile artist, gained recognition for her intricate designs and mastery of traditional Tarascan weaving techniques. Her works were highly sought after by local communities and travelers alike.

The surname Tarasco also appeared in the writings of early Spanish chroniclers and missionaries, who documented their interactions with the Tarascan people and their culture. These accounts provide valuable insights into the lives and traditions of the Tarasco people during the colonial era.

It is worth noting that the name Tarasco may also be associated with certain place names in Michoacán, such as the town of Tarasquillo or the Lago de Pátzcuaro (Lake Pátzcuaro), which were integral to the Tarascan civilization.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tarasco

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

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

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

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