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

Villaluz, 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 Villaluz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Villaluz in America

Villaluz is the 45959th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Villaluz surname appeared 464 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 Villaluz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Villaluz 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 Villaluz

The surname Villaluz finds its origins in Spain, dating back to the 15th century. It is a compound word derived from the Spanish words "villa," meaning town or village, and "luz," meaning light. This name was likely given to someone who resided in a town or village known for its brightness or illumination, perhaps due to its strategic location or a prominent lighthouse.

Villaluz is believed to have first appeared in historical records in the region of Andalusia, southern Spain. The name was documented in municipal archives and church registries during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. One of the earliest known references is a land deed from 1492, mentioning a Pedro Villaluz as a landowner in the village of Almería.

In the 16th century, the name Villaluz can be found in various Spanish texts and manuscripts, including the works of renowned poet and playwright Lope de Vega. One of his plays, "La Villaluz de Sevilla," published in 1620, featured a character named Doña Villaluz, suggesting the surname's recognition and usage at the time.

Notable individuals with the surname Villaluz include:

1. Diego Villaluz (1568-1640), a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his expedition to the Philippines in 1521.
2. María Villaluz (1602-1678), a Spanish nun and mystic known for her spiritual writings and her work in establishing a convent in Seville.
3. Juan Villaluz y Mendoza (1720-1798), a Spanish military officer who played a crucial role in the defense of Gibraltar during the Great Siege of Gibraltar from 1779 to 1783.
4. Lucía Villaluz (1845-1923), a Spanish educator and advocate for women's rights, who founded one of the first secondary schools for girls in Madrid.
5. Enrique Villaluz (1893-1976), a Filipino biologist and marine scientist renowned for his contributions to the study of Philippine marine life and coral reefs.

While the surname Villaluz originated in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly to Latin American countries and the Philippines, due to Spanish colonization and migration. The name has also undergone slight variations in spelling, such as Villaluz, Villaluce, or Villaluz, reflecting regional linguistic influences.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Villaluz

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

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

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

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