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

Velásquez, 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 Velásquez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Velásquez in America

Velásquez is the 398th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Velásquez surname appeared 80,364 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 27 people would have the surname Velásquez.

We can also compare 2010 data for Velásquez 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 Velásquez

The surname Velasquez is of Spanish origin, originating in the 13th century. It is derived from the Spanish words "vela" meaning "candle" and "asco" meaning "disgust", referring to a person who made or sold candles. The name may have also been given as a nickname to someone who disliked candles or had an unpleasant association with them.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval Spanish records and manuscripts from the regions of Castile and Andalusia. It is believed that the Velasquez family may have had its roots in the town of Velascáliz, located in the province of Soria, which could be a variation or derivative of the surname.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname was Diego Velasquez (1599-1660), a renowned Spanish painter of the Baroque period who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV of Spain. His masterpieces include "Las Meninas" and "The Surrender of Breda".

Another notable figure was Blas Velasquez (1750-1819), a Spanish priest and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of Mexican flora. He is credited with discovering and naming several plant species native to Mexico.

In the realm of literature, Luis Velasquez (1922-2014) was a prominent Venezuelan poet and essayist, known for his works that explored themes of identity, social justice, and the human condition.

Mariana Velasquez (1779-1836), a Colombian patriot and revolutionary, played a crucial role in the independence movement of Colombia from Spanish rule. She is remembered for her unwavering commitment to the cause of freedom.

Lastly, Ramón Velasquez (1916-2008), a Mexican painter and muralist, was renowned for his vibrant and expressive murals that depicted the struggles and resilience of the Mexican people.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Velasquez throughout history, contributing to various fields and leaving a lasting impact on their respective societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Velásquez

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

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

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

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