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

Barriera, 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 Barriera surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Barriera in America

Barriera is the 91981st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Barriera surname appeared 200 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 Barriera.

We can also compare 2010 data for Barriera 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 Barriera

The surname Barriera is of Italian origin, derived from the Italian word "barriera" meaning "barrier" or "barricade." This name is believed to have originated in the late medieval period, possibly among families living near fortified towns or cities where barriers were erected as part of the defensive structures.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Barriera can be found in historical documents from the city of Genoa, Italy, dating back to the 14th century. The name is mentioned in municipal records and tax rolls, indicating that families bearing this surname were established in the region during this time.

The surname Barriera may also have connections to specific place names or locations within Italy. For example, there is a small village called Barriera in the province of Asti, Piedmont, which could have been the origin of the name for some families. Additionally, the name might have been derived from topographical features, such as a natural barrier or fortification near a family's residence.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Barriera. One of the earliest known was Giacomo Barriera (c. 1400-1470), a Genoese merchant and banker who played a significant role in the city's economic and political affairs during the 15th century.

Another prominent figure was Girolamo Barriera (1568-1637), an Italian painter and architect who worked in Rome and Naples during the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. His artistic contributions included frescoes and architectural designs for various churches and palaces.

In the 19th century, Agostino Barriera (1813-1879) was an Italian writer and journalist from Piedmont. He was actively involved in the Risorgimento movement and served as a member of the Italian Parliament after the country's unification.

The name Barriera also appeared in other European countries, possibly due to migration or intermarriage. For instance, Juan Barriera (c. 1570-1640) was a Spanish painter active in Seville during the Golden Age of Spanish art.

Finally, it is worth mentioning Adolfo Barriera (1896-1964), an Argentine lawyer and politician who served as a senator and held various government positions in the mid-20th century.

While the surname Barriera is not among the most common in Italy or other parts of the world, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Barriera

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

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

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

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