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

Berriel, 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 Berriel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Berriel in America

Berriel is the 141140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Berriel surname appeared 118 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 Berriel.

The history of the last name Berriel

The surname BERRIEL is believed to have originated in Spain, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Spanish word "berrio," which means "little hill" or "small mound." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived near or on a small hill or elevated area.

Early records indicate that the BERRIEL surname was particularly prevalent in the northern regions of Spain, such as Asturias and Cantabria, where it was associated with various families and lineages. Some historical documents from the 14th and 15th centuries mention individuals bearing this surname, though specific details are scarce.

One of the earliest known references to the BERRIEL name can be found in the archives of the Monastery of San Salvador de Oña, located in the province of Burgos. A document dated 1467 mentions a certain Juan BERRIEL who was involved in a land dispute with the monastery.

In the 16th century, the BERRIEL surname appears to have spread to other parts of Spain, as well as to some Spanish colonies in the Americas. Notable individuals from this period include Diego BERRIEL, a conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico under Hernán Cortés in the 1520s, and Juana BERRIEL, a wealthy landowner in Seville who founded a charitable trust in 1587.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the BERRIEL name was also found in various parts of the Spanish Empire, including the Philippines and the Caribbean. One notable figure was Gaspar BERRIEL, a Spanish military officer who served as the governor of Puerto Rico from 1671 to 1675.

In the 19th century, several individuals with the BERRIEL surname made their mark in different fields. José BERRIEL (1815-1891) was a Cuban poet and journalist known for his work in promoting the independence of Cuba from Spain. Alejandro BERRIEL (1834-1908) was a Spanish painter and teacher who worked in Madrid.

Fast-forwarding to the 20th century, Ernesto BERRIEL (1904-1982) was a prominent Uruguayan lawyer and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for his country in the 1960s.

While the BERRIEL surname is not among the most common in the Spanish-speaking world, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Berriel

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

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

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

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