Last Name Cortez

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Cortez

The ethnicity distribution of the surname Cortez, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, reveals a predominance of Hispanic origins. In 2000, 88.54% of people with the Cortez surname identified as Hispanic, and this proportion slightly escalated to 89.65% by 2010. White and Asian/Pacific Islander ethnic identities followed, though at much lower rates with 6.00% and 2.92% respectively in 2010. Those identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native formed the smallest groups, each under 1%. It is worth noting that the percentage of those identifying with two or more races saw a decrease of approximately 24.14% over the ten-year period.

	2000	2010	Change
Hispanic	88.54%	89.65%	1.25%
White	7.03%	6%	-14.65%
Asian/Pacific Islander	2.79%	2.92%	4.66%
Black	0.72%	0.7%	-2.78%
Two or More Races	0.58%	0.44%	-24.14%
American Indian and Alaskan Native	0.33%	0.29%	-12.12%

Cortez ancestry composition

NomOrigine 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 Cortez is Spanish & Portuguese, which comprises 32.8% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are Indigenous American (31.8%) and British & Irish (11.6%). Additional ancestries include French & German, Filipino & Austronesian, Italian, Eastern European, and Senegambian & Guinean.

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ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN	COMPOSITION
Spanish & Portuguese	32.8%
Indigenous American	31.8%
British & Irish	11.6%
Other	23.7%

Your paternal lineage may be linked to The Ancient One

When two college students stumbled upon a human skull on the banks of the Columbia River, neither the students nor the police who responded to their 911 call could have imagined the archaeological significance of this rare discovery. The skull — along with about 300 other bone fragments found near Kennewick, Washington — belonged to a 9,000 year-old nomad who Native Americans have dubbed "The Ancient One." Based on skeletal clues, The Ancient One (also known as "Kennewick Man") likely swam, wielded a spear, and hunted coastal fauna for the greater part of his lifeInitial craniometric studies suggested he descended from ancient Japanese and Polynesian-like people and had little in common with living Native Americans. This claim — refuted by the Plateau tribes of the Pacific Northwest — became the center of a decades-long legal battle over the provenance of the remains. When The Ancient One's genome was finally sequenced in 2015, the evidence revealed he was genetically most similar to modern-day Native Americans. In fact, local tribes were found to be direct descendants of a population closely related to The Ancient One; in 2017, he finally received a proper Native American burial. This critical discovery helps illustrate a genetic continuity between ancient and modern-day Native Americans. Furthermore, his paternal line belonged to haplogroup Q-M3, the predominant lineage among Native Americans today.

Your 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.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Cortez

The meaning and origin of the last name Cortez

The surname Cortez is of Spanish origin, derived from the given name Cortés, which means "courteous" or "polite" in Spanish. The name Cortés itself has medieval origins and was commonly used as a nickname for someone with an amiable or well-mannered nature. The name Cortés, and subsequently Cortez as a surname, gained significant prominence with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the Americas, most notably with the explorer Hernán Cortés. Hernán Cortés played a pivotal role in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century. As a result, many people with the surname Cortez trace their ancestry to the descendants of Hernán Cortés or other individuals associated with the conquest. Over time, variations of the surname Cortez have emerged, including Cortés, Cortês, Cortes, and Courtès, among others. Today, the surname Cortez can be found across various Spanish-speaking countries and beyond.

Geographical distribution of the last name Cortez

The last name Cortez has a widespread geographical distribution, primarily found in countries with Spanish heritage. It is especially prevalent in Spain, where it originated from, and is one of the most common surnames in the country. Other European countries with significant populations bearing the last name Cortez include Portugal and Italy. However, due to historical migration patterns and colonization, the surname has also spread to Latin American countries, particularly Mexico, Colombia, and Peru. In the United States, the last name Cortez is most commonly found among individuals of Hispanic origin, with significant concentrations in California, Texas, and Florida. Additionally, it can be found in various countries in the Caribbean, such as Cuba and Puerto Rico, as well as in the Philippines as a result of Spanish influence during colonial times. The geographical distribution of the last name Cortez reflects the historical and cultural legacies of the Spanish-speaking world.

Variants and spellings of the last name Cortez

The last name Cortez can have several variations and spellings depending on the region and cultural influences. Some common variations include Cortes, Cortés, Cortês, and Cortès. These variations might arise from different languages, such as Spanish, Portuguese, or French. The multiple spellings may be a result of historical events or migrations of people bearing the name. For example, during the migration of people from Spain to Latin America, different spellings might have emerged due to various pronunciation patterns and local idiomatic adaptations. Additionally, variations in surnames can also occur through changes in orthography or typographical errors in official documents. Despite the different spellings and variations, all these forms generally refer to the same surname originating from Spain and typically found among Spanish-speaking communities worldwide.

Famous people with the last name Cortez

One famous individual with the last name Cortez is Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador who played a significant role in the colonization of the Americas during the 16th century. He is best known for leading the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire in what is now modern-day Mexico. Cortés' actions forever changed the course of history in the Americas, as his conquest paved the way for Spanish colonization and the spread of European influence throughout the continent. Another notable figure with the last name Cortez is Jayne Mansfield, an American actress and model who rose to fame during the 1950s and 1960s. Known for her hourglass figure and provocative on-screen presence, Mansfield became a popular sex symbol of her time. Her successful film career, flamboyant persona, and tragic death in a car accident at a young age have cemented her status as one of Hollywood's most iconic and enigmatic figures.

Genealogical research on the last name Cortez

The Cortez surname has its origins in Spain, specifically in the region of Castile. The name is derived from the Old Spanish word "corte" meaning "court" or "short" and "ez" which denotes "son of." As a patronymic name, Cortez was used to identify the descendants of someone named Cort or Corto, suggesting a familial association with nobility or a courtly occupation. Over time, individuals bearing the surname Cortez migrated and established families in various parts of the world, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries. The surname gained prominence during the Spanish colonization of the Americas, with notable historical figures like Hernán Cortés, the conquistador of Mexico. Today, the Cortez surname can be found in different countries, including Spain, Mexico, the United States, and the Philippines, with diverse families upholding a proud heritage linked to their notable ancestors or local histories.