Explore the Family Name Cuestas

The meaning of Cuestas

Spanish (mainly southern): topographic name from the plural of Cuesta ‘slope, bank’.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Cuestas in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Cuestas saw a notable increase from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 40,622 in terms of prevalence, but by 2010, it had jumped to 34,668, marking a 14.66% increase. The number of individuals bearing the name Cuestas also rose from 507 in 2000 to 652 in 2010, demonstrating a significant growth rate of 28.6%. Consequently, the proportion of people with this surname per 100,000 people increased by 15.79%, moving from 0.19 in 2000 to 0.22 in 2010.

20002010Change
Rank#40,622#34,66814.66%
Count50765228.6%
Proportion per 100k0.190.2215.79%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Cuestas

Data from the Decennial U.S. Census also provides insight into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Cuestas. Hispanic ethnicity overwhelmingly dominates at 91.12% in 2000 and 90.64% in 2010, showing a marginal decrease of 0.53%. However, there is also a small representation of White ethnicity, which increased from 4.73% in 2000 to 5.83% in 2010. Interestingly, there was no record of individuals identifying as two or more races or American Indian and Alaskan Native in both census years. Further, the 2010 census registered a novel appearance of Black ethnicity at 0.77%, while the Asian/Pacific Islander category remained stable at 2.76% across both decades.

20002010Change
Hispanic91.12%90.64%-0.53%
White4.73%5.83%23.26%
Asian/Pacific Islander2.76%2.76%0%
Black0%0.77%0%
Two or More Races0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%