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

Arao, 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 Arao surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arao in America

Arao is the 106096th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arao surname appeared 168 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 Arao.

We can also compare 2010 data for Arao 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 Arao

The surname ARAO has its origins in Spain and dates back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the Basque word "arau," which means "rule" or "law." It is believed that the surname was originally given to individuals who held positions of authority, such as judges or magistrates, within their communities.

Historically, the ARAO surname has been concentrated in the northern regions of Spain, particularly in the Basque Country and Navarre. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the "Becerro Galicano," a 14th-century document that lists the names of landowners in the region.

During the 15th century, the ARAO family gained prominence in the city of Bilbao, where they were influential merchants and traders. Juan de ARAO (1437-1502) was a renowned shipbuilder and navigator who played a crucial role in the exploration and colonization of the Americas.

In the 16th century, the ARAO surname spread to the Americas as a result of Spanish colonization. One notable figure from this period was Pedro de ARAO (1520-1588), a conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru under Francisco Pizarro.

The 17th century saw the rise of several prominent ARAO figures in the arts and literature. Miguel de ARAO (1612-1675) was a celebrated poet and playwright who contributed significantly to the Spanish Golden Age of literature.

In more recent times, the ARAO surname has been associated with various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts. José María ARAO (1868-1934) was a Spanish politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs during the Second Spanish Republic.

Another notable figure is Lucía ARAO (1920-2005), a renowned Spanish painter and sculptor whose works are exhibited in galleries and museums around the world.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the ARAO surname throughout history. While the name may have originated from a specific region and occupation, it has since spread and been associated with diverse backgrounds and achievements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arao

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

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

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

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