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

Utu, 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 Utu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Utu in America

Utu is the 97210th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Utu surname appeared 187 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 Utu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Utu 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 Utu

The surname UTU has its origins in the Basque region of Spain, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Basque word "utu," meaning "small" or "little," possibly referring to someone of diminutive stature or a young child. This name was prevalent in the northern provinces of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname UTU can be found in the medieval census records of the village of Getaria, located in the province of Gipuzkoa. In the year 1237, a man named Lope Utu was listed as a resident of the village, indicating the presence of the name in the region during that time period.

The surname UTU also appears in the historical records of the nearby town of Zumaia, where a family by the name of Utu is mentioned in a document from the 14th century. This document refers to a land dispute between the Utu family and another local clan, providing insight into the early use of the name in legal matters.

One notable figure bearing the surname UTU was Juan Utu, a renowned shipbuilder who lived in the coastal town of Mutriku in the late 15th century. His skills in constructing sturdy vessels were highly sought after, and he is credited with building several ships for the Spanish Crown during the Age of Exploration.

Another prominent individual with the UTU surname was Maria Utu, a Basque writer and poet who lived in the 17th century. Her collection of poems, titled "Kantuz Herriaren Bihotzean" (Singing in the Heart of the People), celebrated the rich cultural traditions of the Basque people and played a significant role in preserving their language and heritage.

In the 18th century, Martín Utu de Errekalde gained recognition as a skilled navigator and explorer. He embarked on several voyages to the Americas, contributing to the mapping of new territories and the expansion of Spanish colonial influence in the region.

As the surname UTU spread beyond the Basque region, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Utú, Utue, and Utuy, reflecting the influence of different regional dialects and linguistic adaptations.

While the surname UTU may not be as widely known as some other Spanish surnames, its origins can be traced back to the Basque country, where it has a rich history spanning several centuries and encompassing individuals from diverse walks of life, including shipbuilders, writers, poets, and explorers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Utu

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

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

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

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