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

Vengoechea, 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 Vengoechea surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vengoechea in America

Vengoechea is the 133048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vengoechea surname appeared 127 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 Vengoechea.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vengoechea 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 Vengoechea

The surname Vengoechea has its origins in Spain, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. The name is believed to have been derived from the Spanish words "veng" and "oechea," which roughly translate to "victory" and "oak," respectively. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who achieved a significant victory near an oak tree or forest.

The name first appeared in historical records from the northern region of Spain, particularly in the provinces of Cantabria and Basque Country. It is possible that the name's roots can be traced back even further to the Basque language, which predates the Romance languages and has its own unique linguistic origins.

One of the earliest known mentions of the Vengoechea surname can be found in a 16th-century municipal record from the town of Santander, in Cantabria. This document refers to a certain Juan de Vengoechea, who was a local landowner and prominent figure in the community.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various genealogical records from the region, including those of the noble Vengoechea family, who held significant influence and wealth in the area. One notable member of this family was Diego de Vengoechea, a military commander who served in the Spanish army during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648).

As the centuries passed, the Vengoechea name spread beyond northern Spain, with individuals bearing the surname appearing in other parts of the country and even in Spanish colonies abroad. One famous bearer of the name was Manuel de Vengoechea (1767-1836), a Spanish naval officer and explorer who participated in several expeditions to the Pacific Northwest region of North America during the late 18th century.

Another noteworthy individual with the Vengoechea surname was Juan de Vengoechea y Ovando (1814-1877), a Spanish politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for a brief period in the 1870s.

In the 20th century, the Vengoechea name continued to be associated with notable figures, such as Jesús Vengoechea (1897-1975), a Spanish artist and painter known for his works depicting rural life in Cantabria.

While the surname Vengoechea is not among the most common in Spain, it has a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in the northern regions where it originated. Its unique origins and connections to the Basque language and culture make it a distinctive and intriguing name within the broader tapestry of Spanish surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vengoechea

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

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

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

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