Explore the Family Name Bacallao
The meaning of Bacallao
Catalan (Girona): Castilianized form of Bacallà, from bacallà ‘cod’, hence either a nickname for someone who resembled the fish in some way, or a metonymic occupational name for a fisherman or fish seller specializing in cod. The spelling with -ll- is due to confusion between Castilian bacalao and Catalan bacallà (bacallao is actually Galician spelling). This surname is very rare in Spain; it is found mainly in Cuba. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jorge, Jose, Juan, Mario, Armando, Carlos, Lazaro, Raul, Alfredo, Damaso, Enrique, Juana.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bacallao in the United States?
Based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Bacallao has seen a significant increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Bacallao ranked 44,997 in popularity with a count of 449 individuals carrying this surname. By 2010, the rank had improved to 34,495 with an increased count of 656, demonstrating a change of approximately 23.34 percent in rank and 46.1 percent in count. The proportion of individuals with the surname per 100,000 also rose by 29.41 percent over the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #44,997 | #34,495 | 23.34% |
| Count | 449 | 656 | 46.1% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.17 | 0.22 | 29.41% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bacallao
The Decennial U.S. Census data also provides insights into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Bacallao. There was no recorded change among Asian/Pacific Islander, two or more races, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native categories between 2000 and 2010. However, there was a small decrease in the percentage who identified as White, dropping from 10.91 percent in 2000 to 10.21 percent in 2010. Yet, the highest percentage was in the Hispanic category, which saw a slight increase, rising from 88.20 percent in 2000 to 89.48 percent in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 88.2% | 89.48% | 1.45% |
| White | 10.91% | 10.21% | -6.42% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |