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

Vásquez, 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 Vásquez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vásquez in America

Vásquez is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vásquez surname appeared 111 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 Vásquez.

The history of the last name Vásquez

The surname Vesquez is believed to have originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "vez," meaning "time" or "occasion," and is thought to have been an occupational surname referring to someone who worked as a timekeeper or scheduler.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vesquez can be found in the Libro de la Montería, a 14th-century hunting treatise commissioned by King Alfonso XI of Castile. This text mentions a certain Diego Vesquez, who was likely a huntsman or gamekeeper employed by the royal court.

In the 15th century, the name appears in the historical records of the city of Seville, where a prominent family named Vesquez played an important role in local politics and trade. One notable member of this family was Juan Vesquez, a merchant and diplomat who served as the Spanish ambassador to England in the late 1400s.

During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, several individuals bearing the Vesquez surname made significant contributions to the exploration and settlement of the New World. One such figure was Hernán Vesquez de Córdoba, a conquistador who accompanied Francisco Pizarro on his expedition to Peru in the 1530s.

Another notable Vesquez was Pedro de Vesquez, a Jesuit missionary who established several missions in present-day Paraguay and Argentina during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is credited with converting many indigenous people to Christianity and played a crucial role in the expansion of Spanish influence in the region.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the Spanish poet and playwright Juan Vesquez de Lara, who lived in the 17th century and was known for his contributions to the Golden Age of Spanish theater. His works often explored themes of love, honor, and societal conflicts.

Throughout history, the Vesquez surname has also been associated with various places and geographic features. For instance, the town of Vesques in northern France is believed to have derived its name from the Vesquez family, who may have held land or influence in the area during the Middle Ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vásquez

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

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

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

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