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

Zuluaga, 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 Zuluaga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zuluaga in America

Zuluaga is the 15579th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zuluaga surname appeared 1,877 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Zuluaga.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zuluaga 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 Zuluaga

The surname Zuluaga has its origins in the Basque Country, a region located in northern Spain and southwestern France. The Basque language, known as Euskara, is unique and unrelated to any other language in Europe, which gives Basque surnames like Zuluaga a distinct and ancient character. The name Zuluaga is derived from the Basque words "zulo," meaning "hole" or "cave," and "aga," a locative suffix implying a place. Thus, Zuluaga can be translated to "place of the hole" or "place of the cave."

Historically, surnames in the Basque Country often took on locative meanings related to geographical features, which helps to trace them back to specific areas. The name Zuluaga likely originated from places characterized by notable depressions or caves. One of the earliest mentions of this surname can be traced back to medieval records, though exact dates are often difficult to pinpoint due to the scarcity of written documentation in the early periods.

In terms of historical references, the name Zuluaga appears in various legal documents, land grants, and ecclesiastical records from the 15th and 16th centuries in the Basque region. These documents often detail activities such as land transactions and registrations, suggesting that bearers of the surname were landowners or individuals of some social standing.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Zuluaga is Martín de Zuluaga, an individual noted in 16th-century records. His presence in historical documents indicates the established use of the surname during this period. The surname has also been associated with the locality of Zuluaga, a small village in the province of Álava, which further supports the geographic origins of the name.

Among the famous individuals bearing this surname, Ignacio Zuloaga y Zabaleta (1870–1945) stands out. He was a renowned Spanish painter known for his portraits and genre scenes, and his works are celebrated for their emotional depth and vivid use of color. Another notable figure is Eustasio Zuluaga, a Colombian coffee grower and landowner in the early 20th century, who made significant contributions to Colombia's coffee industry.

In more recent history, Jaime Bernal Zuluaga (born 1940) is prominent in the field of genetics and medicine in Colombia, known for his influential work in genetic research. Additionally, Gustavo Zuluaga Córdoba (1939–2004) was an important Colombian politician and public servant who played an active role in regional governance.

Overall, the surname Zuluaga has a rich history deeply rooted in the Basque Country, characterized by its geographical connections and the notable contributions of its bearers throughout history. The evolution of this surname through various historical records and its connection to specific locales highlight the enduring legacy of the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zuluaga

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

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

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

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