Topete last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Topete

A Spanish surname derived from the word "topete," meaning a tuft of hair on the top of the head.

Topete, 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 Topete surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Topete in America

Topete is the 7446th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Topete surname appeared 4,473 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Topete.

We can also compare 2010 data for Topete 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 7446 9008 -18.99%
Count 4,473 3,336 29.12%
Proportion per 100k 1.52 1.24 20.29%

The history of the last name Topete

The surname Topete originated in Spain, with its earliest known origins dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "topete," which translates to "tuft" or "crest." This term was commonly used to describe a particular hairstyle or a decorative plume worn on helmets during that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Topete surname can be found in the 1587 census records of the town of Málaga, where a family by the name of Topete was listed as residing within the city limits. It is possible that the name's roots can be traced back even further, as many historical documents from that period have been lost or damaged over time.

In the late 16th century, a notable figure named Diego Topete y Calderón (1550-1622) served as a Spanish military officer and navigator. He played a crucial role in the Spanish Armada's expedition against England in 1588, commanding a ship called the San Juan Bautista.

During the 17th century, the Topete surname appeared to have spread across various regions of Spain, with records indicating families bearing this name in cities such as Seville, Cádiz, and Granada. One prominent individual from this era was Juan Topete de Carvajal (1620-1692), a Spanish nobleman and landowner who held significant influence in the region of Andalusia.

In the 18th century, the Topete name gained further recognition with the birth of María Topete y Vázquez (1735-1810), a Spanish noblewoman and philanthropist. Her contributions to education and social welfare initiatives earned her widespread acclaim during her lifetime.

Another notable figure from this period was Ignacio Topete y Fernández (1760-1832), a renowned Spanish military leader who played a pivotal role in the Peninsular War against Napoleonic forces. His strategic leadership and bravery on the battlefield earned him numerous honors and distinctions.

As the centuries progressed, the Topete surname continued to be associated with individuals of historical significance. In the 19th century, Juan Bautista Topete y Vázquez (1821-1885) was a prominent Spanish naval officer and politician who played a key role in the Glorious Revolution of 1868, which led to the overthrow of Queen Isabella II and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in Spain.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable figures associated with the Topete surname throughout the centuries. While its origins can be traced back to Spain, the name has since spread to various parts of the world, carrying with it a legacy of military prowess, nobility, and social contributions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Topete

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

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 Topete was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 3.00% 134
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.31% 14
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.29% 13
Hispanic Origin 96.33% 4,309

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 Topete has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 3.00% 3.21% -6.76%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.31% 0.60% -63.74%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.29% 0.24% 18.87%
Hispanic 96.33% 95.68% 0.68%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Topete last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/topete-surname-popularity/.

"Topete last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/topete-surname-popularity/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Topete last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/topete-surname-popularity/.

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