Carrera
A Spanish occupational surname referring to someone who transports goods, derives from the word "carrera" meaning "road" or "career."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 19,194 Americans carry the last name Carrera. That puts it at #2,203 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 5.60 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 17,857 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Carrera surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
19K
1 in 17,857
Census rank
#2,203
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
5.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
17K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 16,533 bearers of the surname Carrera in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 5.60 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2203rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Carrera, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.4%. The next largest groups are White (9.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Carrera
The surname Carrera has its origins in Spain, where it first emerged during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "carrera," which means "race" or "career." The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for a person who was known for their speed or agility, perhaps in a profession or activity that involved racing or moving swiftly.
In the early 13th century, the name Carrera appeared in various Spanish records, such as the "Libro de las Behetrías" (Book of Beholdings), which documented land holdings and nobility in the Kingdom of Castile. One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Pedro Carrera, a nobleman mentioned in a document dated 1235.
The surname Carrera also has connections to place names in Spain. For instance, the town of Carrera de Torrepadre in the province of Soria was historically associated with this surname, suggesting that some individuals may have adopted the name based on their place of origin or residence.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Carrera. One of the most famous was Rafael Carrera (1814-1865), a Guatemalan military officer and politician who served as the President of Guatemala from 1844 to 1848 and again from 1851 to 1865. Another prominent figure was Adolfo Carreras (1826-1889), a Spanish entrepreneur who founded the tobacco company Tabacalera, which later became part of the Altadis Group.
In the arts, the name Carrera is associated with individuals such as Manuel Carrera (1913-1988), a Mexican painter and sculptor known for his murals and public artworks, and Rafael Carrera Andrade (1903-1978), an Ecuadorian poet and diplomat who served as the Ecuadorian ambassador to several countries.
The name Carrera has also been present in the world of sports. One notable bearer was Juan Manuel Fangio (1911-1995), an Argentine racing driver who won five Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles, making him one of the most successful drivers in the history of the sport. Another sports figure was José Carrera (1921-2020), a Spanish footballer who played as a defender and spent most of his career with FC Barcelona.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Carrera throughout history, highlighting its Spanish origins and its connections to various fields and professions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Carrera
Among Census respondents with the surname Carrera, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.4%. The next largest groups are White (9.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Carrera bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Carrera surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino88.4%
- White9.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.5%
- Black or African American0.6%
- Two or more races0.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Carrera surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,203 | #2,203 | 0.0% |
| Count | 16,533 | 16,533 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 5.60 | 5.60 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Carrera bearers went from 16,533 to 16,533 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #2,203 to #2,203.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Carrera
FAQ
Carrera surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Carrera?
The surname Carrera holds position #2,203 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 19,194 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 5.60 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Carrera surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Carrera, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.4%. The next largest groups are White (9.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.