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

Tenezaca, 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 Tenezaca surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tenezaca in America

Tenezaca is the 33731st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tenezaca surname appeared 675 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 Tenezaca.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tenezaca 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 Tenezaca

The surname TENEZACA has its roots in Ecuador, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the indigenous Quechua language, which was widely spoken in the Andean region during the time of the Inca Empire. The name possibly derives from the Quechua words "tene" meaning "to set" and "zaca" meaning "dry grass" or "straw," potentially referring to a location or occupation related to setting or gathering dry plants.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the TENEZACA name can be found in Spanish colonial records from the late 1500s, when the Spanish conquistadors began documenting the names of indigenous people they encountered in the region. The name appears to have been initially transcribed by Spanish scribes, leading to various spellings such as "Tenezaca," "Teneçaca," or "Tenezaqua."

In the 17th century, the TENEZACA name is mentioned in several historical documents related to land ownership and taxation in the Ecuadorian highlands. One notable individual from this period was Juan TENEZACA, a landowner born around 1620 in the town of Cañar, who was involved in a legal dispute over property boundaries with neighboring haciendas.

During the 18th century, the TENEZACA surname continued to be present in various records, particularly in the Cuenca and Azuay regions of Ecuador. A prominent figure from this time was María TENEZACA, born in 1745 in the town of Gualaceo, who was known for her skilled weaving and textile production, which was a vital part of the local economy.

In the 19th century, the TENEZACA name gained recognition with the birth of José María TENEZACA (1820-1892), a renowned poet and playwright from Cuenca. His works, which often explored themes of indigenous culture and traditions, played a significant role in shaping Ecuadorian literature and preserving the country's cultural heritage.

Another notable individual with the TENEZACA surname was Matilde TENEZACA (1875-1947), a respected educator and women's rights advocate from the city of Loja. She founded several schools in the region and worked tirelessly to promote education and gender equality, becoming a influential figure in the early feminist movement in Ecuador.

Throughout its history, the TENEZACA surname has maintained a strong presence in Ecuador, particularly in the central and southern regions. Its origins can be traced back to the country's indigenous roots, and it has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to various aspects of Ecuadorian society, including literature, education, and cultural preservation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tenezaca

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

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

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

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