Vilella last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Vilella

A surname originating from a town named Vilella in Catalonia, Spain.

Vilella, 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 Vilella surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vilella in America

Vilella is the 67318th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vilella surname appeared 293 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 Vilella.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vilella 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 67318 89895 -28.72%
Count 293 191 42.15%
Proportion per 100k 0.10 0.07 35.29%

The history of the last name Vilella

The surname Vilella has its origins in Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain. Its earliest known roots can be traced back to the late 11th century, derived from the Latin "villa" meaning a small village or estate. It is believed that the name was initially given to individuals who resided in or were associated with a particular villa or rural settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vilella appears in the "Llibre de Repartiment," a medieval document that recorded the distribution of lands and properties in the Kingdom of Valencia after the Christian conquest in the 13th century. This document mentions several individuals bearing the Vilella surname, suggesting that it was already well-established by that time.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Ramon Vilella was documented as a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Barcelona. His successful trading ventures and business acumen contributed to the family's affluence and influence within the region.

During the 15th century, the Vilella name gained further recognition when Joan Vilella, a skilled architect, was commissioned to design and oversee the construction of several important churches and public buildings in various Catalan cities, leaving a lasting impact on the architectural landscape.

In the 16th century, a distinguished member of the Vilella family, Pere Vilella (1492-1567), served as a trusted advisor to King Charles I of Spain. His diplomatic skills and political acumen earned him a reputation as a skilled negotiator and statesman, playing a crucial role in shaping the foreign policy of the Spanish Empire during that era.

Another noteworthy individual bearing the Vilella surname was Francesc Vilella (1628-1696), a celebrated Catalan painter who gained recognition for his religious works and portraits. His artistic talent and mastery of the Baroque style earned him numerous commissions from the Catholic Church and wealthy patrons throughout the region.

In the 19th century, Jaume Vilella (1812-1891), a renowned Catalan writer and journalist, made significant contributions to the literary landscape through his novels, poems, and political commentary. His works often explored themes of Catalan identity, culture, and the struggles for autonomy, resonating deeply with the people of the region.

Throughout its long history, the Vilella surname has been associated with various prominent figures across different fields, from art and literature to politics and architecture, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and social fabric of Catalonia and Spain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vilella

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

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 Vilella was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 32.42% 95
Non-Hispanic Black Only 3.07% 9
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 63.82% 187

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 Vilella has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 32.42% 34.03% -4.85%
Black 3.07% 10.99% -112.66%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 63.82% 54.45% 15.85%

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Vilella last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 25, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/vilella-surname-popularity/.

"Vilella last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/vilella-surname-popularity/. Accessed 25 November, 2024

Vilella last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/vilella-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.