Explore the Family Name Figueroa
The meaning of Figueroa
Galician: habitational name from any of the places in Galicia (Spain) named Figueiroa, from a diminutive of figueira ‘fig tree’. Compare Figeroa and Fiqueroa. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Luis, Juan, Carlos, Angel, Rafael, Miguel, Jorge, Jesus, Manuel, Francisco, Ramon. Portuguese Ligia, Godofredo.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Figueroa in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Figueroa has increased in the United States between 2000 and 2010. The rank, which represents the prevalence of the surname among the population, improved from 398 in 2000 to 316 in 2010, marking an upward shift of 20.6%. In terms of count, the number of people carrying the Figueroa surname rose from 72,533 to 98,468, a significant increase of 35.76%. Consequently, the proportion per 100k also rose from 26.89 to 33.38, reflecting an increase of 24.14%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #398 | #316 | 20.6% |
| Count | 72,533 | 98,468 | 35.76% |
| Proportion per 100k | 26.89 | 33.38 | 24.14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Figueroa
Regarding ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the Figueroa surname is predominantly associated with Hispanic ethnicity, accounting for 91.86% in 2000 and increasing slightly to 92.82% in 2010. Other ethnic identities associated with this surname are White (5.46% in 2000, decreasing to 4.93% in 2010), Black (0.93% in 2000, decreasing to 0.84% in 2010), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.99% in 2000, stable at 1.00% in 2010), American Indian and Alaskan Native (0.24% in 2000, decreasing to 0.15% in 2010). Notably, the share of the surname among those identifying as two or more races decreased by half from 0.52% to 0.26%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 91.86% | 92.82% | 1.05% |
| White | 5.46% | 4.93% | -9.71% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.99% | 1% | 1.01% |
| Black | 0.93% | 0.84% | -9.68% |
| Two or More Races | 0.52% | 0.26% | -50% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.24% | 0.15% | -37.5% |
Figueroa ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Figueroa is Spanish & Portuguese, which comprises 43.8% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are Indigenous American (23.4%) and British & Irish (8.2%). Additional ancestries include French & German, Italian, Senegambian & Guinean, Nigerian, and Angolan & Congolese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Spanish & Portuguese | 43.8% |
| Indigenous American | 23.4% |
| British & Irish | 8.2% |
| Other | 24.6% |
Possible origins of the surname Figueroa
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Figueroa have recent ancestry locations all within Mexico.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Aguascalientes, Mexico | 41.40% |
| Nuevo Leon, Mexico | 41.40% |
| Zacatecas, Mexico | 41.40% |
| Tamaulipas, Mexico | 41.40% |
| Coahuila, Mexico | 41.40% |
What Figueroa haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Figueroa is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include E-M183 and Q-M3, which are predominantly found among people with European and East Asian & Indigenous American ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Soto, Gonzalez, Torres, Rodriguez, Diaz, Rivera, Duran, Silva, Vega, Cordova.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Figueroa surname are: A2, H, B2. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to some of the first Americans
Though the Ice Age was beginning to retreat when your A2 ancestors first entered North America, there were still massive barriers blocking their way. Glaciers and inhospitable climate covered much of the continent, blocking entry into the interior. Nonetheless, researchers have found evidence that a wave of American founders migrated over 13,000 kilometers to reach southern Chile in only 2,000 years, a blink of an eye in the story of human migration! Their highway to the south was the coast of the Pacific, stocked with fish, diverse marine mammals, and other valuable resources in the rich kelp forests of the upper latitudes and in the abundant fresh-water rivers near the equator. Because of this rapid movement south, the A2 haplogroup and its diverse branches are found throughout North and South America.
What do people with the surname Figueroa have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Figueroa" Surname 34.0%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Figueroa" Surname 30.9%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Figueroa" Surname 23.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Figueroa" Surname 17.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Figueroa?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Figueroa are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition