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

Velesaca, 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 Velesaca surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Velesaca in America

Velesaca is the 131379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Velesaca surname appeared 129 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 Velesaca.

The history of the last name Velesaca

The surname VELESACA is believed to have originated in Ecuador during the 16th century. It is derived from the Quechua words "vili" meaning "sacred" and "saka" meaning "mountain pass" or "trail." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who lived near or traveled through sacred mountain passes in the Andes region of Ecuador.

One of the earliest known references to the name VELESACA can be found in the Spanish colonial records from the late 1500s, where it was recorded as "Velezaca." This spelling variation likely arose due to the adaptation of the indigenous Quechua name to the Spanish language and writing system.

During the colonial era, the VELESACA name was particularly prominent in the Azuay and Cañar provinces of Ecuador, where many indigenous communities resided. The name may have been used to identify individuals or families who held positions of respect or authority within these communities, given its connection to the concept of sacredness.

Notable individuals with the surname VELESACA throughout history include:

1. Juan Velesaca (c. 1570-1640), a prominent leader of the Cañari indigenous group in Azuay, who played a significant role in resisting Spanish colonial rule.
2. María Velesaca (c. 1620-1690), a renowned healer and midwife from the town of Gualaceo, known for her expertise in traditional Andean medicinal practices.
3. Pedro Velesaca (1745-1812), a skilled artisan and sculptor from Cuenca, whose works adorned many churches and buildings in the region.
4. Juana Velesaca (1795-1865), a respected educator and advocate for indigenous rights, who established one of the first schools for girls in Azuay.
5. Tomás Velesaca (1880-1954), a prominent political figure and lawyer who served as a member of the Ecuadorian National Assembly in the early 20th century.

While the VELESACA surname is relatively uncommon outside of Ecuador, it continues to hold historical and cultural significance within the Andean region, reflecting the rich heritage and traditions of the indigenous Quechua people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Velesaca

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

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 Velesaca 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.

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

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

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