Explore the Family Name Salamanca
The meaning of Salamanca
Spanish: habitational name from the city of Salamanca in western Spain, which is of pre-Roman foundation and obscure etymology. During the Middle Ages it was one of the leading cultural centers of Europe, and the surname may in some cases have been been a respectful nickname for someone who had visited the city. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Carlos, Manuel, Miguel, Jesus, Jorge, Juan, Roberto, Adriana, Cesar, Eduardo, Esperanza.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Salamanca in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Salamanca increased significantly from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Salamanca was ranked 10,821st most popular surname in the United States but climbed to 8,386th by 2010, representing a 22.5% increase. The count of individuals with this surname also saw significant growth, going from 2,704 in 2000 to 3,947 in 2010 – an upsurge of nearly 46%. Accordingly, the proportion of this surname per 100k people grew by 34% during the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,821 | #8,386 | 22.5% |
| Count | 2,704 | 3,947 | 45.97% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1 | 1.34 | 34% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Salamanca
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals with the surname Salamanca identify as Hispanic. This ethnic group comprised 83.54% of all Salamancas in 2000 and even increased its share to 87.48% in 2010. Meanwhile, the representation of other ethnic identities among Salamancas decreased during this time. The portion identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander fell by 27.65%, while those claiming two or more races dropped by 55.41%. The segment identifying as white also declined, from 5.47% to 4.79%. Data for Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native identities were suppressed in the 2010 census.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 83.54% | 87.48% | 4.72% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 9.8% | 7.09% | -27.65% |
| White | 5.47% | 4.79% | -12.43% |
| Two or More Races | 0.74% | 0.33% | -55.41% |
| Black | 0.22% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.22% | 0% | 0% |