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

Bravo, 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 Bravo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bravo in America

Bravo is the 828th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bravo surname appeared 41,700 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 14 people would have the surname Bravo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bravo 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 Bravo

The surname Bravo originated in Spain and Italy. Its origins can be traced back to the Latin word "bravus," which means "brave" or "courageous." This word eventually evolved into the Spanish and Italian words "bravo" and "brava," respectively, which carried similar meanings.

In Spain, the surname Bravo is believed to have first appeared in the region of Castile during the Middle Ages. It was likely given as a descriptive nickname to individuals who displayed acts of bravery or courage, either on the battlefield or in other contexts. The name is also found in various historical records from Spain, such as the Becerro de las Behetrías, a medieval census document from the 14th century.

In Italy, the surname Bravo has its roots in various regions, including Lombardy, Veneto, and Campania. It is thought to have originated as a descriptive nickname similar to its Spanish counterpart, possibly referring to individuals who exhibited bravery or valor. The name is mentioned in several historical documents, including the Codice Diplomatico Longobardo, a collection of records from the Lombard period in Italy.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bravo was Juan Bravo, a Spanish nobleman and military leader who played a prominent role in the Comuneros Revolt against Emperor Charles V in the early 16th century. Another notable figure was Giovanni Bravo, an Italian architect and engineer from the 16th century who contributed to the design and construction of several notable buildings in Venice.

In the 17th century, Pedro Bravo de Rivero (1580-1652) was a Spanish soldier and explorer who participated in the conquest of New Mexico and served as the governor of Santa Fe from 1638 to 1642. Francisco Bravo (1592-1676) was a Spanish painter known for his religious works and portraits, active in Madrid during the Baroque period.

In more recent history, Mariano Bravo (1762-1810) was a Mexican military officer and revolutionary who fought alongside Miguel Hidalgo during the early stages of the Mexican War of Independence. Nicolás Bravo (1786-1854) was another Mexican military leader and politician who served as President of Mexico from 1839 to 1842.

The surname Bravo has been carried by numerous individuals throughout history, reflecting its origins as a descriptive name associated with bravery and courage. While its roots lie primarily in Spain and Italy, it has spread to various parts of the world, often through migration and exploration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bravo

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

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

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

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