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

Vigil, 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 Vigil surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vigil in America

Vigil is the 1205th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vigil surname appeared 29,382 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 10 people would have the surname Vigil.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vigil 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 Vigil

The surname Vigil is of Spanish origin, derived from the Latin word "vigilia," which means "watchfulness" or "wakefulness." It is believed to have originated in Spain during the Middle Ages, possibly referring to individuals who were responsible for keeping watch or guarding certain areas.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Vigil can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Spain, particularly in Castile and Aragon. It is likely that the name was adopted by individuals who held positions as watchmen, guards, or sentries during that period.

In historical records, the name Vigil appears in various documents and manuscripts from the 14th and 15th centuries. One notable example is the "Libro de las Behetrías" from 1352, which documented the names of landowners and their properties in the regions of Castile and León.

The surname Vigil has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Pedro Vigil, a Spanish soldier and explorer who participated in the conquest of the Canary Islands in the late 15th century.

Another prominent figure was Juan Vigil, a Spanish Catholic priest and missionary who lived in the 16th century. He was known for his work in evangelizing the indigenous populations of New Spain (present-day Mexico) and has been recognized for his contributions to the spread of Christianity in the Americas.

In the 17th century, Rodrigo Vigil y Alarcón was a Spanish military officer and governor of the province of Nuevo León in New Spain. He played a significant role in the colonization and defense of the region against indigenous resistance.

The surname Vigil also has connections to the United States. José Francisco Vigil was a prominent New Mexican politician and military leader who served as the second governor of the Santa Fe de Nuevo México territory from 1847 to 1848, during the period of the Mexican-American War.

Another notable figure was Donaciano Vigil, a New Mexican educator, writer, and politician who lived in the 19th century. He was instrumental in establishing the public education system in New Mexico and served as the first Superintendent of Public Instruction for the territory.

While the surname Vigil has its roots in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly in Latin American countries and regions with Spanish colonial influence. Despite its wide distribution, the name continues to carry the historical significance of its watchful and vigilant origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vigil

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

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

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

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