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

Urcia, 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 Urcia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Urcia in America

Urcia is the 121590th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Urcia surname appeared 142 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 Urcia.

The history of the last name Urcia

The surname Urcia has its origins in northern Spain, specifically in the Basque region, where it first emerged in the early Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Basque word "ur," meaning water, and "zia," meaning place or location, suggesting a connection to a settlement near a body of water or a reference to someone living near a river or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Urcia can be found in a medieval Basque manuscript from the 11th century, which mentions a landowner named Sancho Urcia. This document provides valuable insight into the prevalence of the name in the region during that period.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Rodrigo Urcia was mentioned in a legal document related to a property dispute in the town of Bilbao. This record not only highlights the continued use of the surname but also its association with the local nobility and landowners.

During the 15th century, the Urcia family gained prominence in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, where they held influential positions in local governance and trade. Juan Urcia, born in 1412, was a prominent merchant and served as a councilman in the city.

In the 16th century, the Urcia surname appeared in historical records related to the Spanish Inquisition. María Urcia, born in 1523, was a victim of the Inquisition's persecution and was eventually acquitted of the charges brought against her.

Another notable figure was Alonso Urcia, born in 1671, who was a renowned architect and engineer. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings and infrastructure projects in the Basque region during the late 17th century.

As the Urcia family spread throughout Spain and beyond, the name underwent slight variations in spelling, such as Urtzia and Urcía. These variations reflect the linguistic diversity of the regions where the name took root, as well as the influence of local dialects and pronunciation patterns.

While the Urcia surname is relatively uncommon outside of Spain and the Basque region, it continues to be an integral part of the cultural heritage and history of the area, with its origins deeply rooted in the medieval era and the customs of the local population.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Urcia

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

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 Urcia 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.

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

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

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