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

Chavelas, 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 Chavelas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chavelas in America

Chavelas is the 55255th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chavelas surname appeared 372 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 Chavelas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chavelas 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 Chavelas

The surname "CHAVELAS" is of Spanish origin, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Spain, particularly in Cantabria and Asturias. The name is derived from the Spanish word "chavela," which means a type of small fish.

In the early 16th century, records show that the name was prevalent in the coastal towns of Cantabria, where fishing was a major industry. It is likely that the name was initially given as a nickname to individuals who worked as fishermen or were associated with the fishing trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "CHAVELAS" can be found in the ecclesiastical records of the parish of Santa María de Soto-Iruz in Cantabria, where a certain Pedro CHAVELAS was mentioned in 1524 as a witness to a baptism.

In the 17th century, the name spread to other parts of Spain, including Galicia and Madrid. During this period, several notable individuals bore the surname "CHAVELAS," including:

1. Juan CHAVELAS (1610-1678), a renowned painter from Valladolid, known for his religious works and portraits.
2. María CHAVELAS (1625-1698), a philanthropist from Seville, who founded a hospice for the poor and destitute.

In the 18th century, the name gained prominence in the Americas, particularly in Mexico and Peru, where Spanish colonists had settled. One notable individual from this era was:

3. Rodrigo CHAVELAS (1712-1789), a Spanish military officer who served as the governor of Veracruz, Mexico, from 1765 to 1769.

In the 19th century, the name "CHAVELAS" continued to be found in various parts of Spain, as well as in Latin American countries. Two notable individuals from this period were:

4. Emilia CHAVELAS (1820-1892), a Spanish writer and poet from Madrid, known for her romantic novels and poems.
5. Jorge CHAVELAS (1845-1921), a Mexican politician and diplomat who served as the ambassador to Spain from 1895 to 1901.

Throughout history, the surname "CHAVELAS" has been associated with various occupations, from artists and writers to military personnel and politicians. While the name originated from a humble fishing background, it has gained recognition and respect over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chavelas

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

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

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

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