Tinoco
A surname of Spanish origin, derived from the place name Tinoco, meaning "clay pot" or "mud hut."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 11,277 Americans carry the last name Tinoco. That puts it at #3,670 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.29 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 30,394 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Tinoco surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
11K
1 in 30,394
Census rank
#3,670
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
9.7K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 9,707 bearers of the surname Tinoco in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.29 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3670th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Tinoco, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.4%. The next largest groups are White (3.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Tinoco
The surname Tinoco is of Portuguese origin, emerging in the 15th century. It is derived from the town of Tinoco, located in the northern region of Portugal. The name itself is believed to have its roots in the Latin word "tinea," meaning a type of moth or worm.
The earliest records of the name Tinoco can be found in historical documents from the 15th and 16th centuries, particularly in regions such as Minho and Douro Litoral. These records often refer to individuals with professions related to textile or cloth manufacturing, suggesting a possible connection between the name and the moth or worm associations.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Tinoco was João Tinoco, a merchant and landowner who lived in the late 15th century. Records indicate that he was involved in the trade of textiles and owned several properties in the Minho region.
In the 16th century, the name Tinoco appeared in various legal documents and land records. For instance, Pedro Tinoco, born in 1530, was a prominent figure in the town of Viana do Castelo, where he served as a local official and landowner.
During the 17th century, the Tinoco family expanded their influence, with some members holding prestigious positions in the Catholic Church. Sebastião Tinoco, born in 1612, was a renowned theologian and served as a bishop in the Archdiocese of Braga.
As the Portuguese empire expanded, the Tinoco name spread to other regions, including Brazil. One notable figure was José Tinoco, born in 1765 in Rio de Janeiro, who played a significant role in the Brazilian struggle for independence from Portugal in the early 19th century.
Another prominent individual with the Tinoco surname was Miguel Tinoco, born in 1890 in Portugal. He was a military officer and politician who briefly served as the President of Portugal from 1918 to 1919, during a turbulent period in the country's history.
Throughout the centuries, the Tinoco surname has been associated with various professions, from textile workers and merchants to religious leaders, military figures, and politicians. While its origins can be traced back to a small town in northern Portugal, the name has since spread across the globe, carried by generations of individuals with Portuguese ancestry.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Tinoco
Among Census respondents with the surname Tinoco, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.4%. The next largest groups are White (3.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Tinoco bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Tinoco surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino95.4%
- White3.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
- Black or African American0.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1%
- Two or more races0.1%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Tinoco surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,046 | #3,670 | 27.3% |
| Count | 6,379 | 9,707 | 52.2% |
| Per 100K | 2.36 | 3.29 | 39.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Tinoco bearers went from 6,379 to 9,707 (+52.2% change). The surname moved up 1,376 positions in the national ranking, going from #5,046 to #3,670.
FAQ
Tinoco surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Tinoco?
The surname Tinoco holds position #3,670 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 11,277 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 3.29 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Tinoco surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Tinoco, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.4%. The next largest groups are White (3.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.