Correia last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Correia

A surname derived from the Portuguese word "correira", meaning a runner or messenger.

Correia, 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 Correia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Correia in America

Correia is the 44423rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Correia surname appeared 484 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 Correia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Correia 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.

20102000Change (%)
Rank44423438751.24%
Count4844634.44%
Proportion per 100k0.160.17-6.06%

The history of the last name Correia

The surname CORREIRA originated in Portugal during the 13th century. It likely derived from the Portuguese word "correr," meaning "to run" or "to flow," suggesting the name may have been given to someone who lived near a running stream or river.

The earliest known record of the CORREIRA name appears in the 1258 Inquirições de Afonso III, a Portuguese census and inquiry into land ownership during the reign of King Afonso III. The name was spelled "Correyra" in this document, reflecting the medieval spelling variations common at the time.

In the 15th century, a notable bearer of the CORREIRA surname was João Rodrigues CORREIRA, a Portuguese explorer who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India in 1498. CORREIRA played a crucial role in establishing trade relations with the local rulers and negotiating treaties.

During the 16th century, the CORREIRA name appeared in several Portuguese colonial records, indicating the family's involvement in the expansion of the Portuguese Empire. Álvaro de CORREIRA, born in 1521, served as a captain in the Portuguese army and participated in the conquest of Brazil.

In the 17th century, the CORREIRA surname gained prominence in the Azores islands, where several members of the family were landowners and influential figures. Manuel CORREIRA, born in 1638, was a prominent merchant and ship owner based in the city of Angra do Heroísmo.

In the 18th century, the CORREIRA name was associated with the literary world. António CORREIRA, born in 1712, was a renowned Portuguese poet and playwright, whose works were widely acclaimed during the Enlightenment period.

As the Portuguese Empire expanded, the CORREIRA surname spread to various parts of the world, including Brazil, Africa, and Asia. In the 19th century, José CORREIRA, born in 1823, was a Brazilian abolitionist and politician who played a significant role in the abolition of slavery in Brazil.

Throughout history, the CORREIRA surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including explorers, soldiers, merchants, writers, and political activists. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval Portugal, its presence has been documented in various regions, reflecting the far-reaching impact of Portuguese culture and influence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Correia

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

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 Correia was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only92.77%449
Non-Hispanic Black Only1.45%7
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races1.65%8
Hispanic Origin2.89%14

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

20102000Change (%)
White92.77%91.79%1.06%
Black1.45%(S)%(S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander(S)%(S)%(S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native(S)%0.00%(S)%
Two or More Races1.65%4.97%-100.30%
Hispanic2.89%1.94%39.34%

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

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

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