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

Villaraza, 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 Villaraza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Villaraza in America

Villaraza is the 149395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Villaraza surname appeared 110 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 Villaraza.

The history of the last name Villaraza

The surname Villaraza is of Spanish origin, dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to have originated from the Castilian region of Spain, where it was derived from a combination of two Spanish words: "villa," meaning a town or village, and "raza," meaning race or lineage.

During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines in the 16th century, many Spaniards settled in the archipelago, bringing with them their surnames, including Villaraza. The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in historical documents from that era, such as the "Libro de Actas" (Book of Records) maintained by Spanish authorities in the Philippines.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Villaraza was Juan de Villaraza, a Spanish soldier and explorer who participated in the expeditions of Miguel López de Legazpi, the first Spanish governor-general of the Philippines. Juan de Villaraza was born in Seville, Spain, in the early 1500s and arrived in the Philippines in 1565.

Another historically significant figure was Doña María Villaraza, a wealthy landowner and philanthropist in the late 18th century. She was known for her generosity and contributed significantly to the development of her local community in the province of Bulacan.

In the 19th century, the name Villaraza gained prominence with the birth of Mariano Villaraza (1843-1915), a prominent lawyer and statesman who played a crucial role in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. He served as a member of the Revolutionary Congress and was instrumental in drafting the Malolos Constitution.

Another notable individual was José Villaraza (1876-1951), a renowned educator and writer who founded several schools and authored numerous books on history, literature, and language. He was also a prominent figure in the Philippine independence movement.

During the early 20th century, the name Villaraza was associated with several prominent families in the Philippines, particularly in the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga, where they were known for their involvement in agriculture, business, and politics.

While the surname Villaraza is not as common today as it was in the past, it remains a part of the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines, reflecting the country's Spanish colonial history and the enduring influence of Hispanic culture and tradition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Villaraza

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

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 Villaraza 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.

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

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

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