Chero last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Chero

A Basque surname derived from the Spanish word "chero" meaning shepherd.

Chero, 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 Chero surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chero in America

Chero is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chero surname appeared 120 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 Chero.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chero 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 139228 146011 -4.76%
Count 120 104 14.29%
Proportion per 100k 0.04 0.04 0.00%

The history of the last name Chero

The surname Chero has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Spain and Portugal. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, between the 11th and 15th centuries. The name Chero is derived from the Spanish word "chorro," which means "a stream or jet of water." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived near watercourses or those whose occupation involved working with water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chero can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared in historical documents from the region of Andalusia, in southern Spain. In these records, the name was often spelled as "Chero" or the archaic variation "Chiero." This spelling variation likely arose due to the influence of local dialects and the evolution of language over time.

The name Chero also has a connection to certain place names in Spain and Portugal. For instance, there is a small village called Cheros in the province of Badajoz, in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. The name of this village may have originated from the surname itself or vice versa, suggesting a close relationship between the name and the geographical location.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Chero. One such person was Juan Chero (1562-1631), a Spanish painter and religious artist who was active during the Baroque period. His works can be found in various churches and art collections across Spain. Another noteworthy figure was Pedro Chero (1678-1748), a Portuguese explorer and navigator who participated in several expeditions to the Americas and the East Indies during the Age of Exploration.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure with the surname Chero was MarĂ­a Chero (1818-1892), a Spanish writer and feminist who advocated for women's rights and education. Her literary works and essays were influential in the early feminist movement in Spain. Additionally, Enrique Chero (1867-1923) was a renowned Spanish architect who designed several notable buildings in Madrid and other cities in Spain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Another individual of note was Miguel Chero (1902-1978), a Mexican artist and muralist whose vibrant works depicted scenes of rural life and indigenous cultures. His murals can be found adorning public buildings and cultural centers throughout Mexico.

While the surname Chero may not be as widely known as some others, it has a rich history that spans centuries and has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from artists and writers to explorers and architects. The name's origins and evolution reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Iberian Peninsula, making it a unique and fascinating part of the region's onomastic heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chero

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

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 Chero was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 55.00% 66
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 40.83% 49

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 Chero has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 55.00% 61.54% -11.22%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 40.83% 36.54% 11.09%

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

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

Reference this page

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"Chero last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on September 15, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/chero-surname-popularity/.

"Chero last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/chero-surname-popularity/. Accessed 15 September, 2025

Chero last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/chero-surname-popularity/.

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