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

Zubillaga, 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 Zubillaga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zubillaga in America

Zubillaga is the 99378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zubillaga surname appeared 182 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 Zubillaga.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zubillaga 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 Zubillaga

The surname Zubillaga originates from the Basque Country, which straddles the borders of modern-day Spain and France. This region is culturally distinct and has its own language, Euskara, which is unrelated to any other European languages. The name likely began to take shape during the medieval period, a time when family names were becoming more formalized across Europe.

Zubillaga is derived from the Basque words zubi, meaning "bridge," and the suffix -laga, which is less clear but may denote a place or a collective association. Therefore, the name can be interpreted as "place of the bridge" or "bridge area." This suggests that the original bearers of the surname possibly lived near a significant bridge or a crossing point, which was a landmark important enough to define their identity.

Historical references to the name Zubillaga first appear in medieval documents, principally in land grants and court records. One of the earliest recorded instances can be found in a 14th-century land registry in the province of Gipuzkoa, a central region of the Basque Country. This indicates that the surname was established and recognized at least by this time.

One notable individual bearing the surname Zubillaga was Martín de Zubillaga, documented in the late 16th century as a landowner and local official in the town of Azpeitia. His involvement in municipal and regional affairs shows the prominence the family had achieved in their community. Another significant figure is Diego Zubillaga, a 17th-century merchant who played a substantial role in the trade routes between Basque ports and other parts of Europe, illustrating the commercial influence wielded by bearers of the name.

In the 18th century, Isabel Zubillaga came into historical records as a benefactor who donated significantly to the construction of a local chapel in Villabona, emphasizing the family's continuing prominence and their contributions to public works. Eusebio Zubillaga, a soldier in the late 19th century, stands out for his service in the Carlist Wars, a series of civil wars in Spain marked by regional and political conflicts, showing the family's involvement in significant national events.

The Zubillaga name also extends into the arts and sciences. In the early 20th century, Juan Zubillaga, an accomplished painter from San Sebastián, gained recognition for his contributions to Basque cultural expression through his artwork, which often depicted rural Basque life and landscapes.

Throughout its history, the surname Zubillaga reflects a legacy tied to the Basque Country's geographical and cultural landscape. The earliest records and notable individuals bearing this name each contribute a piece to the mosaic that forms the historical and social context of the Zubillaga surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zubillaga

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

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

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

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