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

Waco, 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 Waco surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Waco in America

Waco is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Waco surname appeared 107 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 Waco.

The history of the last name Waco

The surname Waco has its origins in the Spanish language, and it is believed to have originated in Spain during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Spanish word "vaco," which means "cow" or "cattle." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the Waco surname might have been involved in cattle farming or related occupations.

In its earliest recorded instances, the name appeared with various spellings such as "Vaco," "Vacco," and "Wacco." These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Waco can be found in the Libro de la Montería (Book of the Hunt), a 14th-century manuscript commissioned by King Alfonso XI of Castile. This document contains references to several individuals with the surname Waco, indicating that the name was already in use by that time.

During the 16th century, as Spanish explorers and settlers ventured to the Americas, some individuals bearing the Waco surname accompanied them. This led to the establishment of the name in various regions of the New World.

Notable individuals with the surname Waco throughout history include:

1. Diego Waco (c. 1520 - c. 1580), a Spanish soldier and explorer who participated in the conquest of Chile and served as a lieutenant under Pedro de Valdivia.

2. Juana Waco (c. 1550 - c. 1610), a landowner and philanthropist in colonial Mexico, known for her charitable contributions to local churches and hospitals.

3. Rodrigo Waco (c. 1625 - c. 1695), a Spanish soldier who fought in the Thirty Years' War and later served as a magistrate in Seville.

4. María Waco (c. 1670 - c. 1740), a renowned painter from Madrid, whose works are displayed in several museums in Spain.

5. Andrés Waco (c. 1820 - c. 1890), a prominent scholar and educator in Argentina, who played a significant role in the establishment of the country's educational system.

Over time, the surname Waco has spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals of Spanish descent or those who adopted the name through marriage or other means. However, its origins can be traced back to medieval Spain, where it likely emerged as an occupational surname related to cattle farming.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Waco

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

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

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

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