2000
#9,008
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,336
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.24
Rare Last name
Topete
A Spanish surname derived from the word "topete," meaning a tuft of hair on the top of the head.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,899 Americans carry the last name Topete. That puts it at #7,518 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.43 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 69,964 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Topete surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
4.9K
1 in 69,964
Census rank
#7,518
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,272 bearers of the surname Topete in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.43 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7518th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Topete, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.2%. The next largest groups are White (3.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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 It is possible that the name's roots can be traced back even further, as many historical documents from that period have been lost or damaged over time.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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Topete
Among Census respondents with the surname Topete, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.2%. The next largest groups are White (3.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Topete bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Topete surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino95.2% · 4,069
- White3.8% · 164
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3% · 13
- Two or more races0.3% · 11
- Black or African American0.2% · 8
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 7
Timeline
Historical Census data for Topete
Topete appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#7,446
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,473
+1,137 bearers (+34.1%)
Per 100,000 1.52
Rank movement Up 1,562 places
2020
#7,518
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,272
-201 bearers (-4.5%)
Per 100,000 1.43
Rank movement Down 72 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #9,008 | 3,336 | 1.24 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #7,446 | 4,473 | 1.52 | +1,137 bearers (+34.1%) | Up 1,562 places |
| 2020 | #7,518 | 4,272 | 1.43 | -201 bearers (-4.5%) | Down 72 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Topete surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,446 | #7,518 | -1.0% |
| Count | 4,473 | 4,272 | -4.5% |
| Per 100K | 1.52 | 1.43 | -6.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Topete bearers went from 4,473 to 4,272 (-4.5% change). The surname moved down 72 positions in the national ranking, going from #7,446 to #7,518.
FAQ
Topete surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Topete?
Name Census estimates that about 4,899 living Americans carry the surname Topete. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 69,964 residents.
How common is Topete?
Topete ranks #7,518 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.43 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 4,272 people with the surname Topete. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (4,899), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.43 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.43 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Topete.
Has Topete become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Topete went from 4,473 recorded bearers to 4,272. That is a decrease of 201 (-4.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #7,446 to #7,518.
What does the Census say about the background of Topete?
Among Census respondents with the surname Topete, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 95.2%. The next largest groups are White (3.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.3%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Topete in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.2% (4,069 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Topete appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (95.2%), White (3.8%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.3%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Topete (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Topete mean?
A Spanish surname derived from the word "topete," meaning a tuft of hair on the top of the head. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Topete (1.43 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Topete?
For a quick modern take, check how many people are called Topete on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.