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

Covar, 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 Covar surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Covar in America

Covar is the 119644th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Covar surname appeared 134 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Covar.

The history of the last name Covar

The surname Covar is relatively rare and possesses an intriguing origin likely associated with regions in Spain. The roots of Covar can be traced back to medieval times around the 10th or 11th century. The name may have originated from regions in Spain such as Galicia or Asturias, areas known for their rich history and unique linguistic influences. The surname Covar could derive from Spanish words such as covacha, meaning "small cave or shelter," which reflects the geographical and topographical nature of early settlements in these mountainous areas.

Historical references to the surname Covar are scant, but its presence has been noted in several medieval manuscripts and records. One of the early mentions is found in maritime documents from the late 13th century, indicating that individuals with this surname may have been involved in coastal trading or fishing industries. Similarly, a reference to a Gonzalo de Covar from a 14th-century land dispute document shows the surname's early use in legal and property matters.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Covar is Pedro Covar, born circa 1483, a notable merchant in the port city of Bilbao, renowned for his trade across the Bay of Biscay. Records show that Pedro played a significant role in establishing Bilbao as a central hub of commerce during these times. Another historical figure, María Covar, born around 1520, is noted for her charitable works in the city of Valladolid, where she founded an early form of public kitchen that served the poor and pilgrims.

A distinguished bearer of the surname in the 17th century was Diego Covar, a captain in the Spanish Royal Navy, born in 1610 and known for his expeditions to the Caribbean. His contributions to mapping the New World’s coastal areas were crucial for navigation and trade in that era. In the same century, Juan Covar, born 1654, served as a prominent clerk in the municipal government of Seville, influencing local policies and administrative practices.

In the 18th century, another noted individual with the surname was Francisca Covar, born 1735, who penned several influential works under a pseudonym, advocating for women's education and rights in Zamora. Her writings contributed significantly to the early feminist movements in Spain.

The surname has since spread to different parts of the world, carried by descendants who emigrated for various reasons, contributing to diverse local histories in their new homelands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Covar

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Covar 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.

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

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

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