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

Villega, 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 Villega surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Villega in America

Villega is the 69996th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Villega surname appeared 280 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 Villega.

We can also compare 2010 data for Villega 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 Villega

The surname Villega is of Spanish origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated as a place name, derived from the village of Villega located in the region of Castile-La Mancha. This surname reflects the common practice of adopting the name of one's place of birth or residence as a family name during that time period.

In the early 13th century, the name Villega can be found in various historical records, including land deeds and municipal documents from the Kingdom of Castile. One notable mention is in the Libro de Repartimiento, which documented the distribution of land and properties among the Reconquista settlers in the newly conquered territories.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Villega was Don Rodrigo de Villega, a nobleman and military commander who lived in the late 12th century. He played a significant role in the Reconquista, the struggle to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Moorish rule. Don Rodrigo's exploits were chronicled in several manuscripts of the era, solidifying his place in the historical records.

Another prominent figure was Doña María de Villega, born in 1345, who was a renowned scholar and patron of the arts during the reign of King Pedro I of Castile. Her legacy is preserved in the illuminated manuscripts she commissioned, which are now housed in various museums and libraries across Spain.

In the 16th century, the Villega family established a presence in the Americas, with Juan de Villega, born in 1512, being one of the early colonists to settle in the region of present-day Mexico. He served as a municipal official in the city of Veracruz and is mentioned in several colonial records from that era.

The name Villega can also be traced to the village of Vilhega, located in the Basque Country, which shares a similar etymology. One notable figure from this region was Pedro de Vilhega, born in 1678, who was a skilled shipbuilder and naval architect. His contributions to the Spanish Armada during the 17th century are well-documented in maritime records.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Villega has undergone various spelling variations, including Vilhega, Villègue, and Villegua, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic influences. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained consistent, rooted in the rich historical tapestry of the Iberian Peninsula.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Villega

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

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

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

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