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

Villanueva, 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 Villanueva surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Villanueva in America

Villanueva is the 102197th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Villanueva surname appeared 176 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 Villanueva.

We can also compare 2010 data for Villanueva 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 Villanueva

The surname Villanueva is of Spanish origin, originating from the regions of Spain and the Iberian Peninsula during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Spanish words "villa" meaning "town" and "nueva" meaning "new," suggesting that the name was likely bestowed upon individuals who hailed from a newly established town or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Villanueva can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrias de Castilla, a census-like document compiled in the 14th century during the reign of King Pedro I of Castile. This document listed various noble families and their lands, indicating the presence of individuals bearing the Villanueva surname within the Castilian nobility.

In the 16th century, the Villanueva name appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, including the archives of the Spanish Inquisition. Notable individuals from this period include Fray Tomás de Villanueva (1486-1555), a Spanish Catholic friar and renowned preacher who was later canonized as a saint.

During the Age of Exploration, as Spanish explorers and settlers ventured across the globe, the surname Villanueva was carried to various parts of the Americas and other Spanish territories. One notable individual from this era was Diego de Villanueva y Núñez (1579-1648), a Spanish military officer and governor of New Mexico from 1633 to 1637.

In the 18th century, Francisco de Villanueva (1700-1764) was a Spanish architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Palace of Aranjuez and the Royal Palace of Madrid. His contributions to Spanish architecture and engineering are widely recognized.

Another prominent figure was Joaquín Villanueva (1736-1807), a Spanish architect and urban planner who designed the Puerta de Alcalá, one of the most iconic landmarks in Madrid. His work greatly influenced the architectural style of the city during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

As the Villanueva surname spread across the globe, it became associated with various place names and locations. For instance, in Mexico, there is a town called Villa Nueva located in the state of Zacatecas, which likely derived its name from the Spanish surname.

Throughout history, the Villanueva surname has been borne by numerous notable individuals in fields such as politics, arts, literature, and more. While this report focuses on the historical origins and early appearances of the name, the legacy of the Villanueva surname continues to be woven into the cultural fabric of various nations and communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Villanueva

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

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

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

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