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

Ulate, 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 Ulate surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ulate in America

Ulate is the 56310th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ulate surname appeared 363 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 Ulate.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ulate 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 Ulate

The surname Ulate has its origins in the Spanish language and can be traced back to the early 16th century in the region of modern-day Costa Rica. It is believed to be derived from the Nahuatl word "olli," which means "rubber," and the Spanish suffix "-ate," indicating a place or location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ulate can be found in a colonial manuscript from 1522, which mentions a settlement called "Pueblo de Ulate" located in the central valley of Costa Rica. This suggests that the name was initially used as a place name before becoming a surname.

During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, it was common for indigenous people to adopt Spanish surnames, often derived from their place of origin or residence. The Ulate family likely originated from this region and took on the name as a result of their association with the Pueblo de Ulate settlement.

In the 17th century, the Ulate name appeared in various historical records, including land grants and legal documents. One notable figure was Doña María Ulate, a landowner and prominent figure in the colonial society of Costa Rica during the mid-1600s.

As the centuries passed, the Ulate surname spread across Costa Rica and neighboring regions. In the late 18th century, José Antonio Ulate y Echeverría (1740-1815) was a respected lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Audiencia of Guatemala, an important colonial administrative body.

Another prominent figure was José María Ulate Blanco (1850-1919), a Costa Rican politician and lawyer who served as the country's Vice President from 1894 to 1898. He played a significant role in the establishment of Costa Rica's democratic institutions.

In the 20th century, Otilio Ulate Blanco (1891-1973), the son of José María Ulate Blanco, became a prominent figure in Costa Rican politics. He served as the President of Costa Rica from 1949 to 1953, during a turbulent period in the country's history.

The Ulate surname has also been associated with various places and geographical features in Costa Rica. For example, the Cerro Ulate is a mountain located in the central region of the country, and there are several towns and villages that bear the name Ulate.

While the Ulate surname is most prevalent in Costa Rica, it can also be found in other parts of Central America and among the Hispanic diaspora worldwide. Its historical roots and connection to the early colonial era of the region continue to shape the cultural identity and heritage of those who bear this distinguished surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ulate

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

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

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

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