Find out how popular the last name Alvaraz is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Alvaraz.

Alvaraz, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Alvaraz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alvaraz in America

Alvaraz is the 127494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alvaraz surname appeared 134 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Alvaraz.

The history of the last name Alvaraz

The surname Alvaraz is of Spanish origin, and it can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old Spanish word "alvaro," which means "vigilant" or "watchful." The name was likely derived from the personal name Alvaro, which was popular among the Visigoths and later adopted by the Spanish.

During the Reconquista period, when the Christian kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula were fighting to reclaim territories from the Moors, the name Alvaraz may have been associated with soldiers or watchmen who guarded the borders or fortresses. It is possible that the name was initially given as a surname to individuals who performed these duties.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Alvaraz surname can be found in the Libro del Repartimiento de Sevilla, a document from the 13th century that recorded the distribution of lands and properties in Seville after the city was conquered by King Ferdinand III of Castile in 1248. The name appears as "Alvaraz" in this document.

In the 14th century, there are records of an Alonso Alvaraz, a Spanish nobleman who served as a military commander under King Alfonso XI of Castile. He participated in the Battle of Río Salado in 1340, where the Christian forces defeated the Marinid dynasty of Morocco.

During the 15th century, the Alvaraz surname was also present in the Canary Islands, where it is believed to have been introduced by early Spanish settlers. One notable figure from this period was Juan Alvaraz de Lugo, who was born in Gran Canaria around 1470 and later became a prominent explorer and conquistador in the Americas.

In the 16th century, Pedro de Alvaraz, a Spanish soldier and explorer, gained fame for his expeditions in Mexico and Central America. He was born in Badajoz, Extremadura, in 1485 and played a significant role in the conquest of Mexico, working alongside Hernán Cortés.

Another notable individual with the Alvaraz surname was Juan Antonio Álvarez de Arenales, an Argentine military leader and statesman who fought in the Argentine War of Independence. He was born in Burgos, Spain, in 1770 and later joined the revolutionary forces in South America, becoming a prominent figure in the struggle for independence.

Throughout history, the Alvaraz surname has been present in various regions of Spain, as well as in Spanish colonies and territories. While the exact origins and early bearers of the name may be difficult to trace with certainty, the surname Alvaraz has a rich historical connection to the Iberian Peninsula and the Spanish language.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alvaraz

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Alvaraz.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Alvaraz was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Alvaraz was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Alvaraz, please contact us.

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