2000
#17,001
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,540
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.57
Rare Last name
Valderrama
A toponymic surname referring to someone from Valderrama, a valley of sandy soil in Castile, Spain.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,565 Americans carry the last name Valderrama. That puts it at #7,977 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.33 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 75,083 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Valderrama surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
4.6K
1 in 75,083
Census rank
#7,977
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,981 bearers of the surname Valderrama in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.33 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7977th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Valderrama, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 84.3%. The next largest groups are White (8.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (5.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Valderrama
The surname Valderrama is of Spanish origin and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Spanish phrase "Valle de Rama," which translates to "Valley of the Branch." This suggests that the name's origins are likely tied to a geographical location, such as a valley or a region known for its abundance of branches or vegetation.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Valderrama can be found in the Spanish regions of Andalusia and Extremadura, where it was predominantly used by families residing in rural areas or small villages. The name's spelling has remained relatively consistent throughout history, with minor variations like "Valderrama" and "Valderramá" appearing in some historical documents.
One notable historical reference to the surname Valderrama is found in the archives of the Spanish Inquisition, where several individuals bearing this name were documented during the 15th and 16th centuries. These records provide valuable insights into the lives and experiences of those who carried the Valderrama surname during that turbulent period in Spanish history.
Among the prominent figures who have carried the Valderrama surname throughout history, the following individuals stand out:
1. Gaspar de Valderrama (c. 1500-1568), a Spanish theologian and philosopher who played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation.
2. Pedro de Valderrama (1554-1629), a Spanish Baroque painter known for his religious works and portraits.
3. Juan de Valderrama (1645-1712), a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Panama and Guatemala.
4. José María Valderrama (1764-1832), a Venezuelan military leader and politician who played a crucial role in the Venezuelan War of Independence.
5. Carlos Valderrama (born 1961), a Colombian former professional footballer who represented his country in several World Cup tournaments and is considered one of the greatest players in Colombian history.
While the surname Valderrama has its roots in Spain, it has also gained prominence in other Spanish-speaking countries due to migration and colonial expansion. The name can be found in regions such as Latin America, where it has been adopted and integrated into local cultures, further enriching its historical significance and diversity.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Valderrama
Among Census respondents with the surname Valderrama, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 84.3%. The next largest groups are White (8.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (5.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Valderrama bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Valderrama surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino84.3% · 3,356
- White8.2% · 328
- Asian and Pacific Islander5.9% · 236
- Two or more races0.9% · 36
- Black or African American0.5% · 20
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Valderrama
Valderrama appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#12,652
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,445
+905 bearers (+58.8%)
Per 100,000 0.83
Rank movement Up 4,349 places
2020
#7,977
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,981
+1,536 bearers (+62.8%)
Per 100,000 1.33
Rank movement Up 4,675 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #17,001 | 1,540 | 0.57 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #12,652 | 2,445 | 0.83 | +905 bearers (+58.8%) | Up 4,349 places |
| 2020 | #7,977 | 3,981 | 1.33 | +1,536 bearers (+62.8%) | Up 4,675 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Valderrama surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,652 | #7,977 | 37.0% |
| Count | 2,445 | 3,981 | 62.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.83 | 1.33 | 60.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Valderrama bearers went from 2,445 to 3,981 (+62.8% change). The surname moved up 4,675 positions in the national ranking, going from #12,652 to #7,977.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Valderrama
FAQ
Valderrama surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Valderrama?
Name Census estimates that about 4,565 living Americans carry the surname Valderrama. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 75,083 residents.
How common is Valderrama?
Valderrama ranks #7,977 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.33 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 3,981 people with the surname Valderrama. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (4,565), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.33 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.33 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Valderrama.
Has Valderrama become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Valderrama went from 2,445 recorded bearers to 3,981. That is an increase of 1,536 (+62.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #12,652 to #7,977.
What does the Census say about the background of Valderrama?
Among Census respondents with the surname Valderrama, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 84.3%. The next largest groups are White (8.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (5.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Valderrama in the 2020 Census, accounting for 84.3% (3,356 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Valderrama appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (84.3%), White (8.2%), Asian/Pacific Islander (5.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Valderrama (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Valderrama mean?
A toponymic surname referring to someone from Valderrama, a valley of sandy soil in Castile, Spain. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Valderrama (1.33 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Valderrama?
For a quick modern take, check how many people are called Valderrama on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.