Explore the Family Name Somoza
The meaning of Somoza
Galician: habitational name from any of numerous places in Galicia (Spain) called Somoza, named as being situated ‘below the mountain’ (from Latin sub montia). Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Julio, Carlos, Francisco, Luis, Juan, Miguel, Orlando, Ramon, Alfredo, Alvaro, Ana.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Somoza in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Somoza saw a notable rise in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 25,503rd in prevalence but by 2010, it had climbed to 21,218th, accounting for a change of 16.8%. In terms of actual counts, the number of people with the surname increased from 910 in 2000 to 1,237 in 2010, showing a significant growth of 35.93%. The proportion per 100,000 also rose from 0.34 to 0.42 during this period, translating to an increase of 23.53%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,503 | #21,218 | 16.8% |
| Count | 910 | 1,237 | 35.93% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.34 | 0.42 | 23.53% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Somoza
When it comes to ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census indicates that the majority of individuals with the surname Somoza identified as Hispanic. This group grew slightly from 85.16% in 2000 to 87.15% in 2010. A small percentage identified as White (10.99% in 2000 and 9.62% in 2010), while an even smaller fraction identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, decreasing from 3.08% in 2000 to 2.91% in 2010. There were no recorded instances of individuals identifying as Black, American Indian and Alaskan Native, or belonging to two or more races.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 85.16% | 87.15% | 2.34% |
| White | 10.99% | 9.62% | -12.47% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 3.08% | 2.91% | -5.52% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |