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

Alvare, 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 Alvare surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alvare in America

Alvare is the 99378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alvare surname appeared 182 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 Alvare.

We can also compare 2010 data for Alvare to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Alvare

The surname Alvare has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain and Portugal. It is derived from the Germanic name "Alvarus," which means "elf warrior" or "elf ruler." The name can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 5th to 6th centuries.

In Spain, the name Alvare is closely associated with the region of Catalonia, where it was popularized during the Reconquista period, when Christian kingdoms gradually reclaimed territories from the Moors. This name was borne by several noble families and individuals who played a significant role in the Reconquista.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Alvare can be found in the Codex Calixtinus, a 12th-century manuscript that documented the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. The manuscript includes references to individuals with the surname Alvare who were involved in the pilgrimage or resided along the routes.

In Portugal, the surname Alvare is believed to have originated from the town of Alvares, located in the northern region of the country. This town's name is derived from the Latin "albariae," meaning "white soil" or "white clay."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Alvare was Pedro Alvare Cabral (c. 1467-c. 1520), a Portuguese navigator who is credited with the discovery of Brazil in 1500. Another notable figure was Alvaro de Bazán (1526-1588), a Spanish naval commander known for his victories against the Ottomans and the French.

In the literary realm, Francisco Alvare (c. 1465-c. 1541), a Portuguese priest and explorer, is remembered for his account of the Christian Kingdom of Ethiopia, which he visited in the early 16th century. His work, known as the "Verdadeira Informação das Terras do Preste João das Índias" (True Account of the Lands of Prester John of the Indies), provided valuable insights into the culture and customs of that region.

The surname Alvare also has a connection to the arts, with the Spanish painter Francisco Alvarez (c. 1465-c. 1540) being a prominent figure during the Renaissance period. His works, which often depicted religious themes, can be found in various churches and museums across Spain.

Another notable individual with the surname Alvare was Juan Alvarez (c. 1570-c. 1640), a Spanish architect who was involved in the construction of several significant buildings, including the Plaza Mayor in Madrid.

While the surname Alvare has its roots in the Iberian Peninsula, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and conquest. Today, variations of the name can be found in various countries, reflecting the rich history and cultural diversity associated with this ancient surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alvare

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

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 Alvare 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Alvare has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Alvare was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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