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

Contreras, 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 Contreras surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Contreras in America

Contreras is the 86314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Contreras surname appeared 216 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 Contreras.

We can also compare 2010 data for Contreras 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 Contreras

The surname Contraras has its origins in Spain, where it first emerged in the late medieval period around the 14th or 15th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Spanish word "contra," meaning "against" or "opposite," and the suffix "-as," which was commonly used to form surnames in certain regions of Spain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Contraras surname can be found in historical documents from the city of Seville in southern Spain. These records date back to the 16th century and mention individuals with variations of the name, such as Contreras or Contrarias.

During the colonial era, many Spaniards migrated to the Americas, and it is likely that individuals bearing the Contraras surname accompanied these expeditions. Some notable figures with this surname include Pedro de Contreras, a Spanish explorer and conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century.

Another historical figure associated with the Contraras name is Miguel Contreras (1555-1629), a Spanish poet and playwright from Madrid. His works, including plays and poems, were widely recognized and celebrated during the Spanish Golden Age of literature.

In the 18th century, a prominent military officer named Tomás de Contreras (1737-1809) served in the Spanish Army and played a significant role in the defense of Spain against the Napoleonic invasion. He is remembered for his bravery and strategic leadership during this tumultuous period.

Moving into the 19th century, Francisco Contreras (1806-1891) was a Chilean politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for several terms and played a crucial role in shaping Chile's foreign policy during that era.

Toward the end of the 19th century, a notable figure named Enrique Contreras (1870-1945) emerged as a prominent Mexican artist and sculptor. His works, which often depicted indigenous themes and subjects, are celebrated for their cultural significance and artistic merit.

While the Contraras surname has its roots in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including Latin America, where it is particularly prevalent in countries like Mexico, Chile, and Argentina. The name has also been adopted by individuals of diverse backgrounds, reflecting the global reach and enduring legacy of Spanish cultural influence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Contreras

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

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

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

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