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

Valdivias, 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 Valdivias surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Valdivias in America

Valdivias is the 99378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Valdivias surname appeared 182 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 Valdivias.

We can also compare 2010 data for Valdivias 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 Valdivias

The surname Valdivias originated in Spain, with its roots tracing back to the 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Spanish word "valdivia," which refers to a valley or a fertile region. This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who hailed from or resided in a specific valley or fertile area within Spain.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Valdivias can be found in historical documents from the Spanish region of Andalusia, dating back to the late 15th century. These records indicate that individuals bearing this name were present in various towns and villages within the region during that time period.

In the 16th century, the Valdivias surname appears to have spread throughout other parts of Spain, as evidenced by its appearance in various municipal records and legal documents from that era. Some notable individuals bearing this surname during this time include Juan de Valdivias, a renowned artist born in Seville in 1520, and María Valdivias, a prominent figure in the Spanish Inquisition who lived from 1545 to 1612.

As the Spanish Empire expanded its reach across the globe, the Valdivias surname traveled with colonists and explorers to the Americas and other territories. In the 17th century, records show that individuals with this surname had established themselves in various Spanish colonies, including those in present-day Mexico, Peru, and Chile.

One of the most famous individuals with the Valdivias surname was Pedro de Valdivia, a Spanish conquistador who was born in Castuera, Extremadura, Spain, in 1497. He is renowned for his role in the conquest of Chile and the founding of several cities in that region, including Santiago de Chile. Valdivia's exploits and achievements played a significant role in the expansion of the Spanish Empire in South America.

Another notable figure bearing the Valdivias surname was Rodrigo de Valdivias, a Spanish soldier and explorer who accompanied Juan de Oñate in the colonization of New Mexico in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Valdivias played a crucial role in the establishment of several settlements in the region, including the founding of Santa Fe in 1610.

As the centuries passed, the Valdivias surname continued to spread and evolve, with variations in spelling and pronunciation emerging in different regions and cultures. Today, the name can be found among individuals of Spanish descent across the globe, with a significant presence in countries such as Mexico, Chile, Peru, and the United States.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Valdivias

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

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

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

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