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

Villarraga, 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 Villarraga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Villarraga in America

Villarraga is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Villarraga surname appeared 122 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 Villarraga.

The history of the last name Villarraga

The surname Villarraga has its origins in Spain, emerging during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from a place called Villarreal, a municipality in the province of Castellón, Valencia. The name Villarreal itself is a combination of the Spanish words "villa," meaning town or village, and "real," meaning royal, suggesting a connection to a royal town or village.

During the Middle Ages, many Spanish surnames were formed based on the places where families originated or resided. The earliest recorded instances of the surname Villarraga date back to the 13th century, appearing in ancient records and manuscripts from the region of Valencia.

One notable figure bearing the surname Villarraga was Diego de Villarraga, a Spanish conquistador and explorer who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés in the early 16th century. He played a crucial role in the subjugation of the Aztec Empire and the establishment of Spanish rule in the region.

Another prominent individual with the surname Villarraga was María Villarraga de Salazar, a Spanish noblewoman who lived in the 17th century. She was known for her philanthropic efforts and contributions to the arts and literature of her time.

In the 18th century, Juan Villarraga y Cárdenas, a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator, served as the governor of the province of Popayán in present-day Colombia. His tenure was marked by significant infrastructure developments and efforts to improve the lives of the local indigenous populations.

Moving into the 19th century, José María Villarraga was a Venezuelan writer and poet who made significant contributions to the literary landscape of his country. His works often explored themes of patriotism, national identity, and the struggles for independence from Spanish colonial rule.

Finally, in the 20th century, Lucía Villarraga was a renowned Colombian artist and painter whose works were celebrated for their vibrant colors and depictions of everyday life in Colombia. Her paintings are considered part of the country's cultural heritage and can be found in many prestigious art collections around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Villarraga

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

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

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

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