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 600th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zúñiga surname appeared 56,347 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 19 people would have the surname Zúñiga.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zúñiga 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 Zúñiga

The surname Zuniga is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula. It is believed to have originated from the Basque region of Spain, where the name was derived from the Basque word "Zunitz," meaning "oak tree." This association with oak trees suggests that the name may have initially been a toponymic surname, referring to someone who lived near or was associated with a particular oak tree or oak grove.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Zuniga can be found in medieval Spanish documents dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries. One notable example is the appearance of the name in the Codex Calixtinus, a 12th-century manuscript documenting the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. The Codex mentions individuals with the surname Zuniga, indicating their presence in the region during that time period.

In the 13th century, the Zuniga family rose to prominence as members of the Spanish nobility. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Diego López de Zuniga, who lived during the reign of King Alfonso X of Castile in the mid-13th century. He served as a prominent military leader and was granted significant land holdings in the region of Extremadura.

Another notable figure was Álvaro de Zuniga, who was born in the late 14th century and served as a military commander and diplomat during the reigns of John II and Henry IV of Castile. He played a significant role in the conflicts between the Crown of Castile and the Kingdom of Aragon, and his political influence and military exploits earned him the title of Duke of Arévalo.

In the 16th century, the Zuniga family continued to hold significant power and influence in Spain. One prominent member was Francisco de Zuniga y Avellaneda, who was born in 1536 and served as the Spanish ambassador to the Holy Roman Empire and later as the Viceroy of Naples. He was instrumental in negotiating the Treaty of Vervins, which ended the long-running war between Spain and France.

Moving into the 17th century, Juan de Zuniga y Arista, born in 1614, was a Spanish military commander who played a crucial role in the Thirty Years' War. He served as the Governor of the Spanish Netherlands and was responsible for the successful defense of the Low Countries against the forces of France and the Dutch Republic.

These are just a few examples of the historical significance and prominence of the Zuniga surname within Spain and its territories over several centuries. The name has been carried by notable figures in various fields, including military leaders, diplomats, and members of the nobility, reflecting the rich heritage and legacy associated with this Spanish surname.

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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Zúñiga 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 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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