2010
#106,096
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 168
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.06
Very Rare Last name
Xicotencatl
A Nahuatl surname from Mexico meaning "twinned lords".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 224 Americans carry the last name Xicotencatl. That puts it at #99,304 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,530,153 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Xicotencatl surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
224
1 in 1,530,153
Census rank
#99,304
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
195
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 195 bearers of the surname Xicotencatl in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 99304th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Xicotencatl, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.3%. The next largest groups are White (6.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Xicotencatl
The surname Xicotencatl has its origins in pre-Columbian Mexico, particularly among the Nahua or Aztec people. The name is most closely associated with the central region of present-day Mexico, primarily in the state of Tlaxcala. The etymology of the surname Xicotencatl is derived from the Nahuatl language, the indigenous language spoken by the Aztecs and other Nahua peoples. In Nahuatl, "Xico" can be translated to "bee" or "small insect," and "Tentli" means "lip" or "edge," although the precise interpretation in the context of the surname is debated among linguists. The suffix "catl" is often used to denote a person or an individual, thus making Xicotencatl a name possibly denoting someone of a specific lineage or status within their community.
The name Xicotencatl first gained prominence in historical references during the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century. A notable figure from this period is Xicotencatl I, also known as Xicotencatl the Elder, who was a high-ranking Tlaxcalan leader and an ally of Hernán Cortés. Xicotencatl I played a significant role in the events leading up to the fall of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. His son, Xicotencatl II, known as Xicotencatl the Younger, initially resisted the Spanish but later followed his father's lead in allying with them.
The earliest recorded use of the surname Xicotencatl can be traced back to codices and annals from the time of the Spanish conquest. One of the oldest and most important manuscripts featuring the name is the Codex Ramirez, which chronicles the interactions between the Tlaxcalans and the Spaniards. This document, among others, provides insight into the roles and influence of the Xicotencatl family during this transformative period in Mexican history.
Throughout history, individuals with the surname Xicotencatl have left a lasting legacy. Xicotencatl II, who was born in 1484 and died in 1521, is a prominent historical figure remembered for his military leadership and complex relationship with the Spanish conquerors. Another notable member of this lineage is Xicotencatl III, who continued to serve as a leader within the Tlaxcalan society during the early years of Spanish colonization.
In more modern times, the name Xicotencatl has remained significant in Mexican culture and history. Xicotencatl Axayacatl was a noted historian born in the 19th century, who contributed extensively to the documentation of pre-Columbian and colonial Mexican history. More recently, Xicotencatl Leyva Mortera, born in 1946, served as a respected politician and governor in the Mexican state of Baja California. These individuals, among others, highlight the enduring presence and influence of the Xicotencatl surname.
The surname Xicotencatl, with its deep roots in Nahua culture and its historical significance during the Spanish conquest, continues to be a symbol of the rich and complex history of Mexico. From the early leaders who navigated the tumultuous times of the 16th century, to later figures who carried the name into modern political and academic arenas, the Xicotencatl surname encapsulates a storied legacy that spans centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Xicotencatl
Among Census respondents with the surname Xicotencatl, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.3%. The next largest groups are White (6.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Xicotencatl bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Xicotencatl surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino90.3% · 176
- White6.7% · 13
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.6% · 5
- Black or African American0.5% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Xicotencatl
Xicotencatl appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#99,304
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 195
+27 bearers (+16.1%)
Per 100,000 0.07
Rank movement Up 6,792 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #106,096 | 168 | 0.06 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #99,304 | 195 | 0.07 | +27 bearers (+16.1%) | Up 6,792 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Xicotencatl surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #106,096 | #99,304 | 6.4% |
| Count | 168 | 195 | 16.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.07 | 8.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Xicotencatl bearers went from 168 to 195 (+16.1% change). The surname moved up 6,792 positions in the national ranking, going from #106,096 to #99,304.
FAQ
Xicotencatl surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Xicotencatl?
Name Census estimates that about 224 living Americans carry the surname Xicotencatl. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,530,153 residents.
How common is Xicotencatl?
Xicotencatl ranks #99,304 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 195 people with the surname Xicotencatl. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (224), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.07 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.07 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Xicotencatl.
Has Xicotencatl become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Xicotencatl went from 168 recorded bearers to 195. That is an increase of 27 (+16.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #106,096 to #99,304.
What does the Census say about the background of Xicotencatl?
Among Census respondents with the surname Xicotencatl, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 90.3%. The next largest groups are White (6.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Xicotencatl in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.3% (176 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Xicotencatl appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (90.3%), White (6.7%), American Indian/Alaska Native (2.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Xicotencatl (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Xicotencatl mean?
A Nahuatl surname from Mexico meaning "twinned lords". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Xicotencatl (0.07 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Xicotencatl?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.