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

Vega, 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 Vega surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vega in America

Vega is the 261st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vega surname appeared 116,673 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 40 people would have the surname Vega.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vega 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 Vega

The surname Vega originates from Spain, where it was derived from the Spanish word "vega," meaning a fertile plain or valley. The name initially emerged in the 13th century, particularly in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Vega surname can be found in the "Libro de la Montería" (Book of the Hunt), a 14th-century manuscript commissioned by King Alfonso XI of Castile, which mentions individuals bearing the name Vega.

During the 15th century, the Vega surname gained prominence when Garcilaso de la Vega (1501-1536), a renowned Spanish poet and soldier, rose to fame. His works, including "Églogas" and "Sonetos," significantly influenced the development of Spanish poetry.

Another notable figure was Lope de Vega (1562-1635), considered one of the most prolific and influential playwrights of the Spanish Golden Age. His masterpieces, such as "Fuenteovejuna" and "El Caballero de Olmedo," solidified his reputation as a literary giant.

In the 18th century, José de Vega y Portolés (1673-1739) made significant contributions as a Spanish Baroque sculptor, leaving behind numerous religious and allegorical works that adorned churches and public spaces across Spain.

The Vega surname also gained recognition in the realm of science with José Celestino Mutis (1732-1808), a Spanish botanist and mathematician who led the Royal Botanical Expedition to Nueva Granada (present-day Colombia) and made invaluable contributions to the study of South American flora.

Venturing into the 19th century, Ventura de la Vega (1807-1865) emerged as a prominent Spanish writer and dramatist, renowned for his plays and zarzuelas (Spanish lyric-dramatic genre), including "El Hombre de Mundo" and "La Vida es Sueño."

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the Vega surname throughout history, highlighting its rich cultural heritage and impact across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vega

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

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

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

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