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

Tenesaca, 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 Tenesaca surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tenesaca in America

Tenesaca is the 32031st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tenesaca surname appeared 720 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 Tenesaca.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tenesaca 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 Tenesaca

The surname Tenesaca originated in Ecuador during the pre-Colombian era. It is derived from the Quechua language, spoken by the indigenous inhabitants of the Andes region. The name likely refers to a specific location or geographic feature, as many Quechua surnames are derived from place names or descriptive terms related to the natural environment.

Records of the Tenesaca surname can be found in historical documents from the Spanish colonial period in Ecuador, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. These early records often include variations in spelling, such as Tenezaca or Tenisaca, due to the differences in transcribing the Quechua language into written Spanish.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the Tenesaca surname was Juan Tenesaca, a prominent cacique (indigenous leader) in the Cañar region of southern Ecuador during the late 16th century. Juan Tenesaca played a significant role in negotiating treaties and land rights with the Spanish colonial authorities on behalf of his people.

Another notable figure was María Tenesaca, a skilled weaver and artisan who lived in the Otavalo region of northern Ecuador in the 18th century. Her intricate textiles and tapestries were highly regarded and sought after by Spanish colonists and visitors to the area.

In the 19th century, José Tenesaca was a respected educator and advocate for indigenous rights in the city of Cuenca. He established several schools and advocated for the preservation of Quechua language and cultural traditions in the face of increasing Spanish influence.

During the early 20th century, Pedro Tenesaca gained recognition as a skilled musician and composer, known for incorporating traditional Andean instruments and melodies into his works. His compositions were widely performed and celebrated throughout Ecuador and neighboring countries.

Lastly, Rosa Tenesaca, born in 1942, was a prominent figure in the Ecuadorian women's rights movement. She worked tirelessly to advocate for gender equality, indigenous rights, and social justice, and was awarded numerous honors and accolades for her activism and leadership.

While the Tenesaca surname has deep roots in Ecuador's indigenous culture and history, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the Quechua-speaking peoples of the Andean region, where it has held significance and pride for centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tenesaca

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

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

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

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