2010
#143,149
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Xolo
A surname likely derived from the Nahuatl word "xolotl," meaning a hairless dog breed.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 172 Americans carry the last name Xolo. That puts it at #121,361 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,992,758 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Xolo 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
172
1 in 1,992,758
Census rank
#121,361
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
150
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 150 bearers of the surname Xolo in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 121361st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Xolo, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 84.0%. The next largest groups are White (9.3%) and Black (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Xolo
The surname Xolo finds its origins in Central America, specifically within the regions that are now known as Mexico. The name is deeply rooted in the indigenous cultures and languages of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, deriving from the Nahuatl word "xoloitzcuintli," which refers to the Mexican Hairless Dog, a breed revered by the Aztecs. The Nahuatl language was spoken by the Aztecs and still has a significant influence on Mexican culture and surnames.
The murky realms of its earliest presence in historical records can be traced back to the early periods of Spanish colonization in Mexico during the 16th century. Although no explicit references to the surname Xolo are noted in monumental documents like the Domesday Book, colonial records addressing the indigenous populations and their integration into the colonial system provide subtle hints. The name appears sporadically in parish records documenting baptisms, marriages, and deaths within indigenous communities.
One of the earliest documented instances of this surname appears around the late 16th century in ecclesiastical documents in the state of Puebla, which was a significant area of settlement for indigenous Popoloca communities. An early record from 1583 references a man named Hernando Xolo, involved in a land dispute with a Spanish landowner. This highlights the surname's early use amidst colonial societal structures.
During the colonial era, another noteworthy individual includes María Xolo (1602-1657), who was recorded as part of the indigenous nobility in the regions of Veracruz. Her lineage suggests that the Xolo family maintained a notable status within the indigenous hierarchy, often engaging in social and economic matters with colonial authorities.
In the 18th century, the name appears in several ecclesiastical records in Oaxaca, particularly in the town of Mitla. Miguel Xolo, born in 1724, was documented as a local artisan and craftsman, contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the region known for its ancient Zapotec ruins. His works and community involvement are frequently mentioned in church records from the late 1700s.
Eulalia Xolo (1769-1833), from Tlaxcala, was a notable figure with the last name. She became widely respected within her community for her knowledge of traditional medicine and healing practices. Her death record in 1833 notes her significant contributions to preserving indigenous health practices during a period of increasing European medical influence.
By the 19th century, the surname Xolo is firmly entrenched within various communities across central and southern Mexico. Francisco Xolo (1812-1876), a community leader from Chiapas, played a vital role in local governance during the reformist era of Benito Juárez. His political engagement underscores the surname's continued prominence and adaptation through successive historical periods.
Throughout its history, the surname Xolo has been associated with indigenous heritage, resistance, and adaptation amidst evolving social structures. From the early colonial records to the notable nineteenth-century figures, the surname reflects a rich tapestry of cultural significance and resilience within Mexican history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Xolo
Among Census respondents with the surname Xolo, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 84.0%. The next largest groups are White (9.3%) and Black (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Xolo 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 Xolo surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino84.0% · 126
- White9.3% · 14
- Black or African American2.0% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.0% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.3% · 2
- Two or more races1.3% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Xolo
Xolo 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
#121,361
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 150
+34 bearers (+29.3%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 21,788 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #143,149 | 116 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #121,361 | 150 | 0.05 | +34 bearers (+29.3%) | Up 21,788 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 Xolo 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 | #143,149 | #121,361 | 15.2% |
| Count | 116 | 150 | 29.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.05 | 25.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Xolo bearers went from 116 to 150 (+29.3% change). The surname moved up 21,788 positions in the national ranking, going from #143,149 to #121,361.
FAQ
Xolo surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Xolo?
Name Census estimates that about 172 living Americans carry the surname Xolo. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,992,758 residents.
How common is Xolo?
Xolo ranks #121,361 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.05 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 150 people with the surname Xolo. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (172), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.05 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.05 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 Xolo.
Has Xolo become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Xolo went from 116 recorded bearers to 150. That is an increase of 34 (+29.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #143,149 to #121,361.
What does the Census say about the background of Xolo?
Among Census respondents with the surname Xolo, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 84.0%. The next largest groups are White (9.3%) and Black (2.0%). 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 Xolo in the 2020 Census, accounting for 84.0% (126 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Xolo appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (84.0%), White (9.3%), Black (2.0%). 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 Xolo (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 Xolo mean?
A surname likely derived from the Nahuatl word "xolotl," meaning a hairless dog breed. 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 Xolo (0.05 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 Xolo?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.