2000
#4,961
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,507
First available Census row
Per 100,000 2.41
Rare Last name
Chavira
A Spanish habitational surname referring to someone from any of several places called Chavira, likely derived from "txabola," meaning "hut."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 9,115 Americans carry the last name Chavira. That puts it at #4,321 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.66 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 37,603 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Chavira surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
9.1K
1 in 37,603
Census rank
#4,321
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
7.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 7,949 bearers of the surname Chavira in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.66 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 4321st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Chavira, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 94.5%. The next largest groups are White (4.6%) and Two or More Races (0.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Chavira
The surname Chavira is of Spanish origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the town of Chavera, located in the province of Soria, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. The name is derived from the Latin word "capraria," which means "goat pasture" or "place of goats."
The earliest known record of the surname Chavira dates back to 1587, when it appeared in a census record from the town of Soria. In the following centuries, the name spread across various regions of Spain, including Andalusia, Aragon, and Catalonia.
One of the earliest notable figures with the surname Chavira was Juan Chavira, a Spanish soldier who fought in the Conquest of Mexico under the command of Hernán Cortés in the early 16th century. Records show that he participated in several battles and was granted land in the region of Veracruz.
Another significant figure was María Chavira, a Spanish nun who lived in the 17th century. She was known for her charitable works and dedication to the education of underprivileged children in the city of Seville.
In the 18th century, Manuel Chavira (1712-1789) was a prominent architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the city of Barcelona. His most notable work is the Church of Santa María del Mar, which is a stunning example of Catalan Gothic architecture.
During the 19th century, José Chavira (1822-1888) was a renowned poet and writer from Madrid. He was a member of the Royal Spanish Academy and is remembered for his contributions to the Romantic literary movement in Spain.
In the 20th century, Enrique Chavira (1912-1998) was a renowned Mexican artist and sculptor. He was known for his abstract and modernist works, and his sculptures can be found in various public spaces throughout Mexico City.
It is important to note that while the surname Chavira has its roots in Spain, it has also become widespread in other Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Mexico and some parts of Latin America, due to migration and cultural exchange.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Chavira
Among Census respondents with the surname Chavira, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 94.5%. The next largest groups are White (4.6%) and Two or More Races (0.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Chavira bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Chavira surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino94.5% · 7,509
- White4.6% · 363
- Two or more races0.3% · 24
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 22
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.2% · 16
- Black or African American0.2% · 15
Timeline
Historical Census data for Chavira
Chavira appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#4,135
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 8,573
+2,066 bearers (+31.8%)
Per 100,000 2.91
Rank movement Up 826 places
2020
#4,321
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 7,949
-624 bearers (-7.3%)
Per 100,000 2.66
Rank movement Down 186 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #4,961 | 6,507 | 2.41 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #4,135 | 8,573 | 2.91 | +2,066 bearers (+31.8%) | Up 826 places |
| 2020 | #4,321 | 7,949 | 2.66 | -624 bearers (-7.3%) | Down 186 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Chavira surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,135 | #4,321 | -4.5% |
| Count | 8,573 | 7,949 | -7.3% |
| Per 100K | 2.91 | 2.66 | -8.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Chavira bearers went from 8,573 to 7,949 (-7.3% change). The surname moved down 186 positions in the national ranking, going from #4,135 to #4,321.
FAQ
Chavira surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Chavira?
Name Census estimates that about 9,115 living Americans carry the surname Chavira. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 37,603 residents.
How common is Chavira?
Chavira ranks #4,321 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 2.66 per 100,000 residents, which is about 3 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 7,949 people with the surname Chavira. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (9,115), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 2.66 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 2.66 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 3 of them to have the surname Chavira.
Has Chavira become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Chavira went from 8,573 recorded bearers to 7,949. That is a decrease of 624 (-7.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #4,135 to #4,321.
What does the Census say about the background of Chavira?
Among Census respondents with the surname Chavira, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 94.5%. The next largest groups are White (4.6%) and Two or More Races (0.3%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Chavira in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.5% (7,509 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Chavira appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (94.5%), White (4.6%), Two or More Races (0.3%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Chavira (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Chavira mean?
A Spanish habitational surname referring to someone from any of several places called Chavira, likely derived from "txabola," meaning "hut." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Chavira (2.66 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Chavira?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.