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

Vilchis, 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 Vilchis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vilchis in America

Vilchis is the 13221st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vilchis surname appeared 2,311 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Vilchis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vilchis 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 Vilchis

The surname VILCHIS is of Mexican origin, originating in the central region of the country during the colonial era. It is derived from the Nahuatl word "uilchich," meaning "wild bird" or "songbird." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who had a connection to birds or perhaps lived in an area where certain birds were abundant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the VILCHIS surname can be found in the historical documents of the Archivo General de la Nación (National Archives of Mexico) in Mexico City, dating back to the late 16th century. These records mention individuals bearing the VILCHIS surname residing in the areas around present-day Mexico City and the state of Puebla.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the VILCHIS surname appeared in various parish records and census documents in the central Mexican states of Puebla, Hidalgo, and Tlaxcala. This indicates that the name had become more widespread in these regions, likely due to migration and the establishment of new settlements.

One notable historical figure with the VILCHIS surname was Juan de Vilchis, a Spanish-Mexican landowner and rancher who lived in the late 17th century. He was granted a large hacienda (estate) in the region of Apan, Hidalgo, which remained in the family's possession for several generations.

Another prominent individual was María Josefa Vilchis, a Mexican nun and educator who lived in the 18th century. She was instrumental in establishing one of the first schools for girls in the city of Puebla and was known for her dedication to educating underprivileged children.

In the 19th century, the VILCHIS surname gained wider recognition when Miguel Vilchis, a journalist and political activist, played a significant role in the Mexican War of Reform (1857-1861). He was a vocal supporter of the liberal movement and wrote extensively about the need for democratic reforms in the country.

During the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), several individuals with the VILCHIS surname were involved in the fighting, including Emilio Vilchis, a soldier who fought alongside Pancho Villa's forces in the northern states of Chihuahua and Durango.

In more recent times, notable figures with the VILCHIS surname include Jesús Vilchis, a Mexican painter and artist who gained recognition for his vibrant depictions of Mexican culture and landscapes in the mid-20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vilchis

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

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

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

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