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

Cercado, 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 Cercado surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cercado in America

Cercado is the 82908th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cercado surname appeared 227 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 Cercado.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cercado 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 Cercado

The surname Cercado originates from Portugal, dating back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Portuguese word "cercado," meaning "enclosed" or "fenced." The name likely referred to someone who lived near an enclosed area or worked as a gatekeeper or fence builder.

The earliest recorded instances of the Cercado surname can be found in historical documents from the Alentejo region of southern Portugal. It is believed that the name first emerged in rural areas where the practice of enclosing land or property was common.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Cercado surname was João Cercado, a farmer from the village of Monsaraz, born around 1460. Records indicate that he owned a modest plot of enclosed land and lived with his family within the village walls.

In the 16th century, the Cercado name appears in various municipal records and land deeds in the towns of Évora and Beja, suggesting the family's presence in these areas. During this time, the name underwent slight variations in spelling, such as "Cercadou" and "Cercadão."

A notable figure from the 17th century was Padre António Cercado (1628-1701), a Catholic priest and scholar who served in the town of Estremoz. He was known for his contributions to the study of Portuguese history and literature.

In the 18th century, the Cercado surname gained prominence with the birth of Manuel Cercado (1724-1792), a successful merchant and landowner in the city of Faro. His descendants played influential roles in the local community and helped establish the family's reputation in the region.

Another notable individual was Joaquim Cercado (1841-1912), a renowned architect from Lisbon who designed several iconic buildings and churches across Portugal. His work is celebrated for its blend of traditional and modern architectural styles.

As the Cercado family spread throughout Portugal and its colonies, the name also appeared in other regions, such as the Azores and Brazil. However, the highest concentration of individuals bearing this surname remained in the southern regions of mainland Portugal.

While the Cercado surname is not among the most common in Portugal, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the country's rural and urban landscapes, reflecting the importance of enclosures and boundaries in the lives of its early bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cercado

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

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

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

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