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

Vasquez, 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 Vasquez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vasquez in America

Vasquez is the 113th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vasquez surname appeared 212,781 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 72 people would have the surname Vasquez.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vasquez 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 Vasquez

The surname Vasquez has its origins in Spain, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Basque language and is a variant of the name "Velasco," which means "crow" or "raven." The name was initially concentrated in the Basque regions of northern Spain and southwestern France.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vasquez can be found in the "Becerro de las Behetrias," a historical document from the 14th century that listed noble families and their properties. The name appears in this record, suggesting its presence among the nobility during that time.

In the 15th century, the Vasquez family played a significant role in the Spanish conquest of the Americas. Juan Vasquez de Coronado, born in 1510, was a Spanish explorer who led expeditions into the present-day southwestern United States in search of the legendary Seven Cities of Gold.

Another notable figure was Diego Vasquez de Mercado, a Spanish soldier and explorer who participated in the conquest of Peru alongside Francisco Pizarro in the 16th century. He was born in 1501 and played a crucial role in the subjugation of the Inca Empire.

During the 17th century, the Vasquez name was associated with several prominent figures in the Spanish colonies. One such individual was Pedro Vasquez de Velasco, a Spanish colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Panama in the 1630s.

In the realm of literature, Juan Vasquez del Marmol, born in 1530, was a Spanish historian and author best known for his work "Descripción General de África" (General Description of Africa), which provided valuable insights into the geography and culture of North Africa during the 16th century.

As the Spanish Empire expanded, the Vasquez name spread across various regions, including Latin America. In Mexico, for instance, the Vasquez family played a significant role in the colonial era, with individuals holding positions in the government and military.

Throughout history, the Vasquez surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including explorers, soldiers, administrators, and literary figures. While its origins can be traced back to the Basque regions of Spain, the name has since become widely dispersed and adopted by various cultures and ethnicities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vasquez

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

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

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

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