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

Zúñiga, 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 Zúñiga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zúñiga in America

Zúñiga is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zúñiga surname appeared 100 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 Zúñiga.

The history of the last name Zúñiga

The surname Zunega has its origins in Spain, more specifically in the Basque Country and the Navarre region, where it first appeared during the Middle Ages. The name is of toponymic origin, derived from a place name that features the old Basque words "zubi" (meaning 'bridge') and "ga" (a locative suffix). It essentially means "place of the bridge," indicating that the name bearers likely lived near or were responsible for a bridge in that region.

The earliest known references to the surname Zunega date back to the 13th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appeared in a manuscript from 1234, which mentioned a nobleman named don Pedro de Zunega. The name appears in various historical texts, including land grants and military records, indicating its bearers were often of noble status. The Zunegas were known to have served as important military leaders and administrators throughout the kingdoms of Castile and Navarre during the Reconquista period.

The town of Zuñiga in Navarre is directly linked to the surname. Historical records from the 14th century mentioned members of the Zunega family as influential figures in this town. Over time, the spelling varied slightly due to regional dialects and transliteration practices, with Zuniga being a common variant.

Don Diego López de Zúñiga (1389–1456) was one such prominent figure. He served as the Castilian ambassador to England and played significant roles in the marital alliances of the Spanish monarchy. Another notable member was Pedro de Zúñiga y Manrique de Lara (1420–1484), who was a Spanish nobleman and diplomat, notable for his role in the courts of Castile and Aragon.

In the 16th century, the Zunegas were influential in the New World. Don Francisco de Zúñiga y Guzmán (1501–1562) was a Spanish conquistador who played a role in the colonization efforts in South America, particularly in Peru. His contributions to the Spanish crown were well-documented, and he was rewarded with land and titles in the New World.

Another notable individual was don Alonso de Zúñiga (1560–1622), who was an influential military leader during the final stages of the Reconquista. His personal records indicate extensive land holdings in both Old and New Castile, indicating the surname's association with land and nobility continued well into the early modern period.

In more recent historical contexts, Juan de Zúñiga y Requesens (1532–1586) is recognized as a significant historical figure. He served as the Spanish Viceroy of Naples and later as one of the most trusted advisors to King Philip II, contributing to the political and military strategies during the period of Spain's vast empire.

Overall, the surname Zunega and its variants have deep historical roots and are associated with nobility, military leadership, and significant social influence both in Spain and in regions colonized by Spain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zúñiga

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

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

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

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