In addition, Spanish liberal manumission policies contributed to the growth of the population of Creoles of color, particularly in New Orleans. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 supported the binary society and the policy of "separate but equal" facilities (which were seldom achieved in fact) in the segregated South. Louisiana authors, Creole food, and cultural events featuring scholarly lectures and historical information along with fun for families with free admission, and vendor booths are also a feature of this very interesting festival which unites all French Creoles who share this common culture and heritage. These Creoles and Mtis families generally did not remain in New Orleans and opted for settlement in the northwestern "Creole parishes" of higher ground. Evangeline Parish's French-speaking Senator, Eric LaFleur sponsored SR No. In rural French Louisiana, Creoles have historically been farmers and itinerant agricultural laborers raising sugar cane, rice, sweet potatoes, and, more recently, soybeans. Likewise, the children of the first Africans in Louisiana, brought here in slavery starting in 1719, would have been known as Black Creoles, or "Creole slaves." Historically, then, "Creole" was not a racial signifier, but rather a pan-racial, place-based ethnicity, with the unifying commonality being local nativity. Orientation The buildings of the French Quarter are of a Mediterranean style also found in southern France. While creating this generator I found it necessary to have a first name present and to read both the first name and last name together, as some combinations of first names and surnames do sound better than others. The system of plaage that continued into the 19th century resulted in many young white men having women of color as partners and mothers of their children, often before or even after their marriages to white women. Some Americans were reportedly shocked by aspects of the culture and French-speaking society of the newly acquired territory: the predominance of the French language and Roman Catholicism, the free class of Creoles of color and the strong African traditions of slaves. . Haitian last names are mainly derived from French, with some Latin influence and a number of imports from other countries, especially Spanish- and English-speaking countries. 2 : a white person descended from early French or Spanish settlers of the U.S. Gulf states and preserving their speech and culture. It is often considered the Creole music of Louisiana. Between 1723 and 1769, most slaves imported to Louisiana were from modern day Senegal, Mali and Congo. What is the most common last name in Trinidad? This formative group for Black Creoles was called gens libres de couleur in antebellum times. Now, only some people over the age of 80 can speak Spanish in these communities. Colonial/Continental French derives from the speakers of French among colonial settlers, planters, mercantilists, and non-Acadian farmer-laborers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Even so, Smith ranked third in the last census and between 2000 and 2010, there was a 6.9% increase in the last name. Most common surnames starting with E. According to the 1940 census, Evans was the most common last name beginning with the letter 'E', followed by Edwards and Ellis. In its mingling of styles to create a new music, jazz is analogous to Black Creole history and culture and is truly a Creole music that has transformed America and the world. Domnguez, Virginia R. (1986). Starting with aromatic seasonings, the French used onions and celery as in a traditional mirepoix, but lacked carrots, so they substituted green bell peppers. Santos - religious last name given to people born on November 1st, All Saints' Day or at the Bay of All Saints, today known as Salvador, Bahia. #1. Gordon (English origin) a habitual name for a place in Scotland. A large number of the imported slaves from the Senegambia region were members of the Wolof and Bambara ethnic groups. Many of their historic plantations still exist. The stronghold of Creole speaking in southern Louisiana is the plantation region along Bayou Teche, where it is sometimes the first language of Whites as well as Blacks. There are many Creole communities within Natchitoches Parish, including Natchitoches, Cloutierville, Derry, Gorum and Natchez. Further, the long-term interaction with and dominance of Cajun French, as well as the larger assimilative tendency of English, have made Creole closer to Cajun French. The misfortunes of the French Revolution have cast upon this country so many talented men. Although the ethnic meaning of Creole varies in Louisiana, its primary public association is now with people of African-French/Spanish ancestry. Most Popular Names. In towns and New Orleans, many Creoles have worked as artisans and craftspeople. Gayle (English origin) means "fathers joy" derived from the name Abigail. Esprit, Fredieu, Fuselier, Gallien, Goudeau, Gravs, Guillory, Hebert, Honor, Hughes, LaCaze, LaCour, Lambre', Landry, Laurent, LBon, Lefls, Lemelle, LeRoux, Le Vasseur, Llorens, Maths, Mathis, Mtoyer, Mezire, Monette, Moran, Mullone, Pantallion, Papillion, Porche, PrudHomme, Rachal, Ray, Reynaud, Roque, Sarpy, Sers, Severin, Simien, St. Romain, St. Ville, Sylvie, Sylvan, Tournoir, Tyler, Vachon, Vallot, Vercher and Versher. Individuals and groups of individuals through innovation, adaptation, and contact continually enrich the French language spoken in Louisiana, seasoning it with linguistic features that can sometimes only be found in Louisiana. Families clean, paint, and decorate the vaulted white, above-ground tombs that characterize the region. Their speeches consequently read more like sympathetic eulogies than historical analysis.[50]. [41], Nearly all boys of wealthy Creole families were sent to France where they received an excellent classical education.[43]. We could only promise to request permission. Thousands of St. Dominican refugees, both white and Creole of color, arrived in New Orleans, sometimes bringing slaves with them. Along with these diverse Mtis & Creole families came West Indian slaves (Caribbean people). This factor has also produced a considerable increase in the population and wealth. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Although many Creoles reject Cajun sociocultural dominance reflected in the naming of the Region, there is no doubt that Cajuns and rural Black Creoles (outside New Orleans) have interacted culturally to a great degree as evidenced in Cajun/Creole music, food, and language. Rank Surname Incidence Frequency; 1: Jean . Krewe float riders toss throws to the crowds; the most common throws are strings of plastic colorful beads, doubloons (aluminum or wooden dollar-sized coins usually impressed with a krewe logo), decorated plastic throw cups, and small inexpensive toys. [14], During this time, to increase the colonial population, the government also recruited young Frenchwomen, known as filles la cassette (in English, casket girls, referring to the casket or case of belongings they brought with them) to go to the colony to be wed to colonial soldiers. Historic rural outlier settlements are also found on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain and in northern Louisiana in the Cane River area south of Natchitoches. It is one of the famous dishes in Louisiana, and is associated with "washday Monday". Thus, parishes rather than counties exist, with police juries as consular boards. Another historic area to Louisiana is Pointe Coupee, an area northwest of Baton Rouge. Search 31 million family names. 22 Feb. 2023 . Today, people in this dominantly African-French population have a range of ethnic styles and associations depending upon residence, family history, Economic status, and perceived ancestry. If youre scratching your head for some people whose last name is Williams, theres Venus and Serena Williams, Vanessa Williams, Michelle Williams, Pharrell Williams, and more. Amede is a female French-inspired name that remains popular among Creoles. . [46] One Creole of color, Francis E. Dumas, emancipated his slaves and organized them into a company in the Second Regiment of the Federal Louisiana Native Guards. Concurrently, the number of white-identified Creoles has dwindled, with many adopting the Cajun label instead. American authorities initially forbade access of slaves into Louisiana. 7. Among the Spanish Creole people highlights, between their varied traditional folklore, the Canarian Dcimas, romances, ballads and pan-Hispanic songs date back many years, even to the Medieval Age. Encyclopedia of World Cultures. Find out how surnames are ranked in popularity, how many people in the United States of America bear a particular name, and how the statistics change between 1990 and 2000 US Censuses. Hebert (German origin), literally translates to 'brilliant warrior'. Answer (1 of 27): For a few reasons, all related to slavery and its aftermath. Kin Groups and Descent. Louisiana Creole Last Names. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. Major twentieth-century migrations have occurred into southeast Texas, particularly Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Houston, where the Fifth Ward is called "Frenchtown." Subsistence and Commercial Activities . Green (English origin) means "green". In times of racial strife from the Civil War to the civil rights movement, Black Creoles were often pressured to be in one or another of the major American racial categories. This led to the biggest shipment in 1716 where several trading ships appeared with slaves as cargo to the local residents in a one-year span. There was a 36,579 increase in the last name over a 10 year period pulling the entire population to a total of 1.4 million people. Spitzer, Nicholas R. (1984). Louisiana Creoles share cultural ties such as the traditional use of the French, Spanish, and Creole languages[note 1] and predominant practice of Catholicism. Sterkx, Herbert E. (1972). In 1765, during Spanish rule, several thousand Acadians from the French colony of Acadia (now Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island) made their way to Louisiana after having been expelled from Acadia by the British government after the French and Indian War. Alves or lvares - son of lvaro. LANGUAGE: French; 45 local Niger-Congo languages Zydeco is the music of Black Creoles in southwestern Louisiana. We were constrained to abandon our possessions and our servants, who have shown us fidelity and attachment, which did not permit us at the last minute to hide from them our route and plans. Cajun French is the most widely spoken French language variety throughout rural southern Louisiana. There are over 2.4 million African-American and Caribbean people with that last name. Between African-Americans, Caribbean, and African people, here are the most common last names. The language consists of elements of French, Spanish, African and Native American roots. However, the late 2010s have seen a minor but notable resurgence of the Creole identity among linguistic activists of all races,[55] including among white people whose parents or grandparents identify as Cajun or simply French.[56][57]. Louisiana Creole (Louisiana Creole: Kryl La Lwizyn) is a French-based creole language spoken by fewer than 10,000 people, mostly in the state of Louisiana. Black Last Names starting from B Blevins - wolflike Burkes - burg Bienaime - someone who lived in Gascony Bunton - right little pet Bibb - nursery Byars - Bye Beckles - meadow Beaver - a place with a beautiful view Berryman - one who dwelt at the castle Burr - hill Brower - a person who made beer Belt - strap maker Bird - nestling When Claiborne made English the official language of the territory, the French Creoles of New Orleans were outraged, and reportedly paraded in protest in the streets. Cajun ancestry can be traced back to what is now Nova Scotia, Quebec, and various Maritime provinces. It was spoken by the ethnic French and Spanish and their Creole descendants. Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings. ", "Many feared Naomi Drake and powerful racial whim", "Davantage de Perspectives louisianaises", "Arrte de m'appeler "cadien." This old French surname has Germanic origin, and means 'noble'. It also highlights their adaptation to the Isleo music to other music outside of the community (especially from the Mexican Corridos).[2]. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Rural Creole Mardi Gras influenced by Cajun culture involves more of a French mumming tradition of going from house to house with men dressed as women, devils, Whites, and strangers to the community. The Mardi Gras Indians associate under names like Creole Wild West, White Eagles, or Yellow Pocahontas. Celebrations are concentrated for about two weeks before and through Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras in French), the day before Ash Wednesday. Gombo is the Louisiana French word for okra, which is derived from a shortened version of the Bantu words kilogomb or kigamb, also guingamb or quinbomb. There are also elder Creole speakers in New Orleans. Today, most Creoles are found in the Greater New Orleans region or in Acadiana. "[45], After the United States acquired the area in the Louisiana Purchase, mixed-race Creoles of color resisted American attempts to impose their binary racial culture. However, a version of jambalaya that uses ham with shrimp may be closer to the original Creole dish.[60]. Most Common Last Names In Haiti. Later 19th-century immigrants to Louisiana, such as Irish, Germans and Italians, also married into the Creole group. Thomas is another last name that wouldnt rank in the top 10 when considering the entire population. Louisiana Creole Last Names. Louisianians don't ask "How are you?" they say "How's ya' momma an em?". Remember me. While the sophisticated Creole society of New Orleans has historically received much attention, the Cane River area in northwest Louisianapopulated chiefly by Creoles of coloralso developed its own strong Creole culture. Amana (ah-MAH-nuh) Integrity, faithful, trust. The local authorities of New France (governors, officers) did not have the human resources to establish French law and customs, and instead often compromised with the Indians. The Natchez massacred 250 colonists in Lower Louisiana in retaliation for encroachment by French settlers. The blending of cultures and races created a society unlike any other in America. These and many other songs were sung by slaves on plantations, especially in St. Charles Parish, and when they gathered on Sundays at Congo Square in New Orleans. [3] The Creole civil rights activist Rodolphe Desdunes explained the difference between Creoles and Anglo-Americans, concerning the widespread belief in racialism by the latter, as follows: The groups (Latin and Anglo New Orleanians) had "two different schools of politics [and differed] radically in aspiration and method. A true Louisianian will run it all together: Howsyamommaanem? While the Code Noir required that the slaves receive baptism and Christian education, many continued to practice animism and often combined elements of the two faiths. It is a synthesis of Cajun tunes, African-American blues, and Caribbean rhythms. They pressured the United States' first governor of the Louisiana Territory, W.C.C. Although there was a growing population of free blacks, particularly in the Upper South, they generally did not have the same rights and freedoms as Creoles of color in Louisiana under French and Spanish rule, who held office and served in the militia. Philippe - (Greek origin) This unique Haitian name means lover of horses. ", Landry, Rodrigue, Ral Allard, and Jacques Henry. In 1800, France's Napoleon Bonaparte reacquired Louisiana from Spain in the Treaty of San Ildefonso, an arrangement kept secret for two years. With that being said, theres probably one Smith that immediately comes to mind when you think of the last name Will Smith! Distributed by Flower Films, El Cerrito, Calif. Spitzer, Nicholas R. (1986). Baby Name Generator. In the twentieth century, the gens de couleur libres in Louisiana became increasingly associated with the term Creole, in part because Anglo-Americans struggled with the idea of an ethno-cultural identity not founded in race. If youre not African, its easy to think that the same last name isnt common. Probably the strongest carrier of African-based religious tradition in both Creole and non-Creole Black communities in New Orleans are the spiritual churches. [77] Some have been designated as National Historic Landmarks, and are noted within the Cane River National Heritage Area, as well as the Cane River Creole National Historical Park. Evangeline Parish was formed out of the northwestern part of St. Landry Parish in 1910, and is therefore, a former part of the old Poste des Opelousas territory. In the early 19th century, floods of St. Dominican refugees fled from Saint-Domingue and poured into New Orleans, nearly tripling the city's population. [47] Alexander Dimitry was one of the few people of color to take on a leadership role within the Confederate Government. haitian creole surnameswhat did deluca say to hayes in italian January 19, 2023 . Louisiana is known as the Creole State.[9]. They were often housed in barns and performed hard labor. This late-1850s photograph by Jay Dearborn Edwards shows Canal Street, the rough dividing line between New Orleans's American and Creole communities. During the last census, this name was the most common with over 774,000. The name "Creole" has a polysemic history, and its meaning remains heavily context-bound to the present. 10. The colonists turned to sub-Saharan African slaves to make their investments in Louisiana profitable. Today, the old association of "Creole" with strictly European populations of the ancien rgime is vestigialthough clung to by some Whites. Childbearing is encouraged and families with an agrarian base are large by American standards. Baptiste is popular for males and means to 'baptize' in French or 'to dip' in Greek. The area was noted for its many plantations and cultural life during the French, Spanish, and American colonial periods. Brian J. Costello, an 11th generation Pointe Coupee Parish Creole, is the premiere historian, author and archivist on Pointe Coupee's Creole population, language, social and material culture. Gumbo (Gomb in Louisiana Creole, Gombo in Louisiana French) is a traditional Creole dish from New Orleans with French, Spanish, Native American, African, German, Italian, and Caribbean influences. The term Crole was originally used by the Louisiana French to distinguish people born in Louisiana from those born elsewhere, thus drawing a distinction between Old-World Europeans and Africans from their Creole descendants born in the New World. The Creole "homeland" is semitropical French Louisiana in the southern part of the state along the Gulf of Mexico. Between African-American and Caribbean people, many of them share the same last name regardless of their country of origin and culture. Sometimes shamans succeeded in curing the colonists thanks to traditional remedies, such as the application of fir tree gum on wounds and Royal Fern on rattlesnake bites. He was immersed in the area's Louisiana Creole dialect in his childhood, through inter-familial and community immersion and is, therefore, one of the dialect's most fluent, and last, speakers. "Zydeco and Mardi Gras: Creole Performance Genres and Identity in Rural French Louisiana." As in many other colonial societies around . Aguillard (French origin), meaning "needle maker". [52], Among the practices Drake directed was having her workers check obituaries. Attacks by Native Americans represented a real threat to the groups of isolated colonists. French, Cajun, Creole, Houma: A Primer on Francophone Louisiana by Carl A. Brasseaux Louisiana State University Press, 2005. 46. [36][37] Many of the slaves who accompanied St. Dominican refugees came willingly, as they feared the bloodshed, murder, pillaging, lawlessness, and economic collapse in Saint-Domingue. The city became 63 percent black in population, a greater proportion than Charleston, South Carolina's 53 percent.[32]. POPULATION: 8,924,553 Grant (English origin) meaning "tall" or "great". They were property owners and created schools for their children. These cool last names range from unique and pretty to cute and fancy. In addition, French authorities deported some female criminals to the colony. (Since the mid-20th century, the number of Spanish-speaking Creoles has declined in favor of English speakers. According to Virginia R. Domnguez: Charles Gayarr and Alce Fortier led the outspoken though desperate defense of the Creole. They were overwhelmingly Catholic, spoke Colonial French (although some also spoke Louisiana Creole), and maintained French social customs, modified by other parts of their ancestry and Louisiana culture. The French & Indians influenced each other in many fields: the French settlers learned the languages of the natives, such as Mobilian Jargon, a Choctaw-based Creole language that served as a trade language in use among the French and various Indian tribes in the region. Napoleon's Soldiers in America, by Simone de la Souchere-Delery, 1998, Dr. Carl A. Brasseaux's "The Founding of New Acadia: The Beginnings of Acadian Life in Louisiana," 17651803, Engag White Indentured Servitude in Louisiana, Cane River Creole National Historical Park, Louisiana African American Heritage Trail, Indigenous peoples of the Americas portal, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, The Term "Creole" in Louisiana: An Introduction, Helen Bush Caver and Mary T. Williams, "Creoles", "When Louisiana Creoles Arrived in Texas, Were They Black or White? It is a roux-based meat stew or soup, sometimes made with some combination of any of the following: seafood (usually shrimp, crabs, with oysters optional, or occasionally crawfish), sausage, chicken (hen or rooster), alligator, turtle, rabbit, duck, deer or wild boar. While others pay tribute to Jamaican, Haitian, or Egyptian culture. [21] In addition, in the early nineteenth century, many St. Dominicans also settled in Louisiana, both free people of color and slaves, following the Haitian Revolution on Saint-Domingue, contributing to the Voodoo tradition of the state. The Democrats enforced white supremacy by passing Jim Crow laws and a constitution near the turn of the 20th century that effectively disenfranchised most blacks and Creoles of color through discriminatory application of voter registration and electoral laws. Depending upon which island in this twinisland state is being discussed, the culture name is "Trinidadian" or "Tobagonian." In 1804, Jean-Jacques Dessalines decreed that all Creoles of color and freed slaves deemed traitors to the Haitian Empire should be put to death. Under the French and Spanish rulers, Louisiana developed a three-tiered society, similar to that of Saint-Domingue (Haiti), Cuba, Brazil, Saint Lucia, Martinique, Guadeloupe and other Latin colonies. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a4737202fbce3fcae9405a9d1e4da205" );document.getElementById("if75a4498f").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *, Careers Contact Us Privacy Policy CookiePolicy Win. In 1682, the French claimed what came to be known as the Louisiana Territory or "La Louisiane," an immense parcel of land named in honor of King Louis XIV. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. [16] French Louisiana also included communities of Swiss and German settlers; however, royal authorities did not refer to "Louisianans" but described the colonial population as "French" citizens. They often became domestics, cooks, wig makers, and coachmen. Some St. Dominican refugees did attempt to perpetuate French Revolutionary ideas on their arrival into Louisiana, which American authorities feared. This area reaches upwards to Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, Avoyelles and what became Evangeline Parish in 1910. Today, zydeco musicians sing in English, Louisiana Creole or Colonial Louisiana French. Here are the Top 10 names that came up during the 2010 census. Mardi Gras is not exclusive to Black Creoles, but in both urban and rural instances they are occasions utilized to express Creole style and social boundaries through traditional public performances. Particularly in New Orleans, middle-class Creoles have entered all layers of professional society, though discrimination remains a problem there and throughout the region. "[69] In the 1850s, white Francophones remained an intact and vibrant community; they maintained instruction in French in two of the city's four school districts. Jambalaya is the second of the famous Louisiana Creole dishes. The phrase sort of sounds like "homonym.". One of the most popular female Creole names for a couple of centuries has been Adelaide which has German roots and means 'nobility'. Zydeco musicians host festivals all through the year. //]]>, ETHNONYMS: Afro-French, Black Creoles, Black French, Creoles, Croles, Croles Noirs, Creoles of Color. Theres actor James Earl Jones, music producer Quincy Jones, TV personality Star Jones, and more! Among the 18 governors of Louisiana between 1803 and 1865, six were French Creoles and spoke French: Jacques Viller, Pierre Derbigny, Armand Beauvais, Jacques Dupr, Andre B. Roman and Alexandre Mouton. Some slaves had no last names. [39] And 353 Creoles of color were recruited into the militia that fought in the Battle of New Orleans in 1812. Encyclopedia of World Cultures. Every ten years, theres a U.S. Census and we can use this information to figure out just how many people have the same last name. The Free Negro in Ante-Bellum Louisiana. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. Surnames such as, Ardoin, Aguillard, Mouton, Bordelon, Boucher, Brignac, Brunet, Buller (Buhler), Catoire, Chapman, Coreil, Darbonne, David, DeBaillion, Deshotel, DeVille, DeVilliers, Duos, Dupre', Esprit, Estillette, Fontenot, Guillory, Gradney, LaFleur, Landreneau, LaTour, LeBas, LeBleu, Ledoux, Ledet, LeRoux, Manuel, Milano-Hebert, Miller, Morein, Moreau, Moten, Mounier, Ortego, Perrodin, Pierotti, Pitre (rare Acadian-Creole), Rozas, Saucier, Schexnayder, Sebastien, Sittig, Soileau, Vidrine, Vizinat and many more are reminiscent of the late French Colonial, early Spanish and later American period of this region's history.[82]. Their living conditions were difficult: uprooted, they had to face a new, often hostile, environment, with difficult climate and tropical diseases. Most Creole cottages are two rooms wide, constructed of cypress with continuous pitch roofs and central chimneys. In some areas candlelit ceremonies are held. Today, jambalaya is commonly made with seafood (usually shrimp) or chicken, or a combination of shrimp and chicken. Barlowe (bahr-loh) It is especially in the realms of ritual, festival, food, and music as expressive cultural forms that Creole identity within the region is asserted and through which the culture as a whole is recognized, though often misrepresented, nationally and internationally. In New Orleans, two Creole mayors have served in the last decade. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Also during the '40s and '50s many Creoles left Louisiana to find work in Texas, mostly in Houston and East Texas. LOCATION: Gabon (western Central Africa) The beans are served over white rice. Natchitoches Parish also remains recognized as "Creole". 1. [25], The Code Noir conferred affranchis (ex-slaves) full citizenship and gave complete civil equality with other French subjects. Sybil Kein suggests that, because of the white Creoles struggle for redefinition, they were particularly hostile to the exploration by the writer George Washington Cable of the multi-racial Creole society in his stories and novels. Cajun name generator . Other parishes so recognized include Avoyelles, St. Landry Parish and Pointe Coupee Parishes. 20. The majority of these French Creoles and Mtis peoples chose to leave their former homes electing to head for the only 'French' exempted settlement area in Lower Louisiana, the "Territory of Orleans" or the modern State of Louisiana. Still, within the context of the United States, Southern Louisiana Catholicism is unique. ", This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 03:51. Over time, many of these groups assimilated into the dominant francophone Creole culture, often adopting the French language and customs. Creoles and creolization of cultural elements set much of the regional tone for southern Louisiana. [13] Under John Law and the Compagnie du Mississippi, efforts to increase the use of engags in the colony were made, notably including German settlers whose contracts were absolved when the company went bankrupt in 1731. Identification. Their intermarriage created a large mtis (mixed French Indian) population In New France.[19]. Spanish Canary Islanders, called Isleos, emigrated from the Canary Islands of Spain to Louisiana under the Spanish crown between 1778 and 1783. 4,964,135. One of the biggest increases, the last name saw a 7.3% increase over a 10 year period. While it ranks lower at 16, the last name came in 8th during the 2010 census. Quickly recognizing the . Beyond the official dogma and structures of the Catholic church, a wide range of folk religious practices has flourished, drawing upon African influences, medieval Catholicism, African-American belief and ritual systems, and Native American medicinal and belief systems.