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

Teruel, 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 Teruel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Teruel in America

Teruel is the 41234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Teruel surname appeared 528 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 Teruel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Teruel 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 Teruel

The surname Teruel has its origins in Spain, specifically in the region of Aragon. It is believed to have derived from the town of the same name, Teruel, which is situated in the province of Teruel, Aragon. The name Teruel itself is thought to have roots in the Latin word "turris," meaning tower, likely referring to a fortified structure or settlement in the area.

The earliest known reference to the surname Teruel dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various medieval records and documents from Aragon. One notable example is the mention of Pedro de Teruel in the "Fueros de Teruel," a legal code established in the town of Teruel in 1176.

During the Reconquista, the period when Christian kingdoms sought to reclaim territories from Moorish rule, several individuals bearing the surname Teruel played important roles. Juan de Teruel, born in 1285, was a renowned military commander who participated in the conquest of Valencia in the early 14th century.

In the 15th century, the name Teruel gained further prominence with the birth of Juan de Teruel y Zaporta (1430-1498), a notable theologian and professor at the University of Salamanca. His works on religious philosophy and ethics were widely influential during the Renaissance period.

Another notable figure with the surname Teruel was María Teruel de la Vega (1555-1630), a Spanish aristocrat and philanthropist known for her charitable works and patronage of the arts. She was a major benefactor of several churches and monasteries in Aragon.

In the realm of literature, the surname Teruel is associated with the tragic love story of "Los Amantes de Teruel" (The Lovers of Teruel), a popular legend that has been adapted into plays, novels, and even operas over the centuries. The story is set in the town of Teruel and involves two lovers, Juan Diego Martínez de Marcilla and Isabel de Segura, whose romance was tragically cut short.

Throughout history, the surname Teruel has been found in various spellings and variations, such as Turuel, Turruel, and Teruwel, reflecting the influence of regional dialects and linguistic evolution over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Teruel

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

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

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

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