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

Biera, 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 Biera surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Biera in America

Biera is the 85659th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Biera surname appeared 218 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 Biera.

We can also compare 2010 data for Biera 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 Biera

The surname Biera is of Spanish origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. Its earliest known usage can be traced to the northern regions of Spain, particularly in the provinces of Asturias and Cantabria.

The name Biera is believed to have derived from the Latin word "vipera," which translates to "viper" or "snake." This connection suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname or a reference to someone's occupation or association with snakes.

In the 13th century, records from the Castilian kingdom mention individuals bearing the surname Biera, indicating its early establishment in the region. One notable example is Pedro Biera, a soldier from Asturias who participated in the Reconquista campaign against the Moors in the late 1200s.

As the surname spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula, variations in spelling emerged, such as Viera and Biera. These variations were influenced by regional dialects and linguistic evolution over time.

During the 15th century, the Biera family gained prominence in the city of Salamanca, where several members held influential positions within the local government and religious institutions. One renowned figure was Juan Biera, a scholar and theologian who taught at the University of Salamanca in the late 1400s.

In the 16th century, the Biera surname made its way across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas during the Spanish colonization. One notable bearer was Alonso Biera, a conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in the 1520s.

As the Spanish Empire expanded, so did the reach of the Biera surname. In the 17th century, records indicate the presence of Biera families in various regions of South America, particularly in Peru and Chile.

Another historical figure associated with the Biera surname is Francisco Biera, a 17th-century Spanish playwright and poet from Madrid. His works were widely celebrated during the Spanish Golden Age and contributed to the literary landscape of the era.

In the 19th century, the Biera surname gained recognition in the field of art with the birth of José Biera y Comas (1839-1914), a renowned Spanish painter and illustrator known for his depictions of historical and religious scenes.

Throughout its history, the surname Biera has maintained a strong presence in Spain and its former colonies, with various individuals bearing this name making notable contributions in diverse fields, including military service, academia, exploration, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Biera

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

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

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

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