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

Villafaña, 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 Villafaña surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Villafaña in America

Villafaña is the 10653rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Villafaña surname appeared 3,003 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 Villafaña.

We can also compare 2010 data for Villafaña 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 Villafaña

The surname Villafana has its origins in Spain, tracing back to the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Spanish words "villa" meaning "town" and "fana," which may have been a reference to a particular region or settlement.

One of the earliest known records of the name Villafana can be found in the "Libro de la Montería" (Book of the Hunt), a 14th-century manuscript commissioned by King Alfonso XI of Castile. This hunting treatise mentions individuals with the surname Villafana, suggesting their involvement in the nobility or royal court during that time.

In the 15th century, the Villafana family held estates and lands in the region of Andalusia, southern Spain. Historical documents reference various members of the family, including Rodrigo de Villafana, who was a prominent figure in the conquest of Granada in the late 15th century.

The surname Villafana has also been linked to the town of Villafáfila in the province of Zamora, located in the northwestern region of Spain. It is possible that the name originated from this specific location, with variations in spelling occurring over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Villafana include:

1. Francisco de Villafana (c. 1510-1580), a Spanish conquistador and explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico.
2. Juan de Villafana (c. 1540-1610), a Spanish soldier and author who wrote about his experiences in the Spanish colonization of the Americas.
3. María de Villafana (c. 1570-1640), a Spanish noblewoman and philanthropist known for her support of religious institutions and charitable works.
4. Alonso de Villafana y Salcedo (c. 1620-1690), a Spanish military officer who served as the governor of several provinces in New Spain (present-day Mexico).
5. Pedro de Villafana y Sotomayor (c. 1670-1735), a Spanish nobleman and magistrate who held influential positions in the Spanish colonial administration.

Throughout its history, the surname Villafana has been associated with nobility, military service, and administrative roles in Spain and its colonies. While the exact origins of the name may be subject to debate, it remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage and history of the Hispanic world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Villafaña

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

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

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

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