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

Villarrel, 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 Villarrel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Villarrel in America

Villarrel is the 127494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Villarrel surname appeared 134 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 Villarrel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Villarrel 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 Villarrel

The surname Villarrel is of Spanish origin, originating in the regions of Castile and Aragon during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish words "villa," meaning town or village, and "real," meaning royal or related to the monarchy. This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who lived in a town or village under royal jurisdiction or patronage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the 13th-century Partidas, a legal code compiled during the reign of Alfonso X of Castile. It mentions a nobleman named Rodrigo Villarrel, who held lands in the province of Soria.

In the 15th century, a prominent figure named Juan Villarrel served as a royal treasurer and accountant under King Juan II of Castile. He played a crucial role in managing the kingdom's finances during a turbulent period of political upheaval.

During the Age of Exploration, a Spanish explorer named Diego Villarrel accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to the Americas in the early 16th century. He was among the first Spaniards to set foot in what is now Mexico and is believed to have participated in the conquest of the Aztec Empire.

In the 17th century, a renowned poet and playwright from Madrid, Francisco Villarrel, gained recognition for his literary works. His plays were performed in the royal court and were influential in shaping the Golden Age of Spanish literature.

Another notable figure with the surname Villarrel was María Villarrel, a Basque nun who lived in the 18th century. She founded a convent in the town of Vitoria and was known for her charitable works and devotion to education.

Over the centuries, variations of the name have included Villareal, Villarreal, and Villaruel, reflecting regional dialects and spelling preferences. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained consistent, tracing back to its roots in the medieval Spanish kingdoms.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Villarrel

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

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

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

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