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

Vizcaya, 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 Vizcaya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vizcaya in America

Vizcaya is the 44270th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vizcaya surname appeared 486 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 Vizcaya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vizcaya 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 Vizcaya

The surname "Vizcaya" is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the Basque region of northern Spain. It derives from the Basque word "Bizkaia," which refers to the province of Vizcaya situated along the Bay of Biscay. This region has a rich cultural heritage deeply intertwined with the Basque language and traditions.

During the Middle Ages, the province of Vizcaya played a significant role in the political landscape of the Iberian Peninsula. It was a renowned shipbuilding center, and its skilled sailors and navigators contributed greatly to the maritime prowess of Spain. The Vizcaya surname likely emerged as a way to identify individuals hailing from this influential region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Vizcaya" can be found in the "Cartulario de San Millán de la Cogolla," a medieval cartulary or collection of documents from the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla, dated around the 11th century. This historical record includes references to individuals bearing the name, suggesting its long-standing presence in the region.

Notable individuals with the surname "Vizcaya" have left their mark throughout history. One such figure was Diego de Vizcaya, a 16th-century Spanish navigator and explorer who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his famous circumnavigation of the globe. De Vizcaya played a crucial role in the expedition, serving as the pilot for one of the ships.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Juan de Vizcaya, a 17th-century Spanish military engineer and architect. He was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of several fortifications and defensive structures throughout the Spanish Empire, including the renowned Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, Florida.

In the realm of literature, Martín de Vizcaya, a 15th-century Spanish poet and author, gained recognition for his works celebrating the Basque culture and language. His poems and writings shed light on the traditions and folklore of the Vizcaya region during that era.

The name "Vizcaya" also found its way into the world of art through the renowned Spanish painter Ignacio de Vizcaya (1688-1768). His works, which often depicted religious themes and portraits, adorned the walls of churches and palaces throughout Spain, showcasing his exceptional talent and artistic vision.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning Álvaro de Vizcaya, a 16th-century Spanish soldier and conquistador who participated in the conquest of the Inca Empire alongside Francisco Pizarro. His role in this significant historical event has been documented in various chronicles and accounts of the time.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the surname "Vizcaya" throughout history, highlighting the rich heritage and influence of this name originating from the Basque region of northern Spain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vizcaya

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

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

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

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