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 72332nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Contreras surname appeared 269 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 CONTRERES is of Spanish origin, first appearing in records from the late 15th century. It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Spain, particularly in the provinces of Asturias and Cantabria. The name is derived from the Spanish word "contra," meaning "against," and "res," which can refer to a person or thing, suggesting the name may have been given to someone who was known for opposing or resisting something or someone.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the CONTRERES name can be found in the archives of the city of Oviedo, where a certain Juan Contreres was mentioned in a document dated 1492. This document detailed a land dispute between Juan and a neighboring landowner, providing insight into the potential origin of the name and its connection to a confrontational or opposing nature.

In the 16th century, the CONTRERES name appeared in various manuscripts and records throughout Spain, particularly in the regions of Asturias and Cantabria. One notable individual was Diego Contreres, a respected jurist and legal scholar born in Santander in 1535. His treatises on Spanish law and legal procedures were highly influential during that time.

During the Age of Exploration, the CONTRERES name spread beyond Spain's borders as Spanish explorers and settlers ventured to the Americas and other parts of the world. In 1598, a Pedro Contreres was documented as one of the first Spanish settlers in the New World, arriving in what is now Mexico.

The 17th century saw the rise of a prominent CONTRERES family in the city of Seville. Manuel Contreres (1620-1685) was a successful merchant and landowner, and his son, Sebastián Contreres (1648-1712), served as a respected magistrate and judge in the city's court system.

In the 18th century, the CONTRERES name found its way to the Philippines, which was a Spanish colony at the time. One notable figure was Ignacio Contreres (1735-1812), a Spanish-born missionary and linguist who dedicated his life to studying and documenting the languages and cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Philippines.

As the CONTRERES name continued to spread throughout the Spanish-speaking world, it also evolved in spelling and pronunciation. Variations such as Contreras, Contreiro, and Contrera emerged, reflecting regional differences and linguistic influences.

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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