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

Barrara, 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 Barrara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Barrara in America

Barrara is the 121590th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Barrara surname appeared 142 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 Barrara.

The history of the last name Barrara

The surname Barrara is believed to have originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Sicily. It likely emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 11th or 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Italian word "barrara," which means "barrel maker" or "cooper," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been involved in the craft of making barrels.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Barrara can be found in a document dated 1265, which mentions a certain "Giovanni Barrara" from the town of Palermo, Sicily. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name appears in a manuscript from the city of Messina, where a certain "Nicolo Barrara" is mentioned as a merchant involved in the trade of wine and olive oil. This provides further evidence of the name's connection to the barrel-making profession.

During the Renaissance period, the Barrara family gained some prominence in Sicily. One notable figure was Antonio Barrara (1460-1532), a scholar and philosopher from Catania, who wrote extensively on the works of Aristotle and Plato.

In the 17th century, records show a branch of the Barrara family settling in Naples, where they became involved in the city's vibrant artistic and cultural scene. One member of this branch, Giovanni Battista Barrara (1618-1679), was a renowned painter and sculptor who worked on various commissions for churches and noble families in Naples.

Another notable figure was Vincenzo Barrara (1770-1846), a military leader from Palermo who played a significant role in the Sicilian Revolution against the Bourbon monarchy in the early 19th century.

As the Barrara family spread across Italy and beyond, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Barraro, Barrera, and Barrera. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the Spanish language, as Sicily was ruled by the Spanish for several centuries.

Throughout its history, the surname Barrara has maintained a strong connection to its Italian roots and the barrel-making profession that gave rise to its origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Barrara

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

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

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

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