Explore the Family Name Ortego

The meaning of Ortego

Spanish: probably a nickname from the masculine form of Ortega 2.

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

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

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Ortego has seen slight changes over a decade. In 2000, Ortego ranked as the 11,628th most popular surname in the United States, with 2,476 individuals sharing this name. By 2010, the rank changed to 11,697 with an increase of 203 people, bringing the total count to 2,679. This growth signifies a change rate of 8.2%. However, when considering the proportion per 100,000 people, there was a minimal decrease of -1.09%.

20002010Change
Rank#11,628#11,697-0.59%
Count2,4762,6798.2%
Proportion per 100k0.920.91-1.09%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ortego

The ethnic identity associated with the surname Ortego also shifted between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The majority of the Ortegos identified as White, accounting for 83.72% in 2000 and 74.84% in 2010. There was a significant increase in those identifying as Hispanic from 13.81% to 22.77%, marking a change of 64.88%. The percentage of those who identify as Asian/Pacific Islander decreased by 14.29%, while the representation of two or more races increased slightly. Interestingly, by 2010, some Ortegos began to identify as Black and American Indian, Alaskan Native, categories that were not present in the 2000 census.

20002010Change
White83.72%74.84%-10.61%
Hispanic13.81%22.77%64.88%
Two or More Races0.85%0.93%9.41%
Asian/Pacific Islander1.05%0.9%-14.29%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0.34%0%
Black0%0.22%0%