DeRivera last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of DeRivera

A surname likely denoting someone who lived near a river or stream.

DeRivera, 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 DeRivera surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DeRivera in America

DeRivera is the 88685th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DeRivera surname appeared 209 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 DeRivera.

We can also compare 2010 data for DeRivera 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 88685 108734 -20.31%
Count 209 151 32.22%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.06 15.38%

The history of the last name DeRivera

The surname DERIVERA is believed to have originated in Spain during the medieval period, specifically in the region of Andalusia. It is thought to be derived from the Spanish word "derivar," which means "to derive" or "to originate." This could suggest that the name was initially given to someone who was a newcomer or an immigrant to a particular area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DERIVERA can be found in the "Libro de Repartimiento de Sevilla," a 13th-century document that detailed the distribution of lands and properties in the city of Seville after its conquest by the Christian forces during the Reconquista. The name appears as "Derivera" in this record, possibly indicating an individual or a family that had recently settled in Seville from another region.

During the 15th century, the DERIVERA surname surfaced in several historical documents from the Kingdom of Aragon, such as the "Registros de Cancillería" and the "Protocolos Notariales." These records suggest that members of the DERIVERA family held positions of prominence within the local community, potentially as landowners or merchants.

One notable figure with the DERIVERA surname was Juan Derivera (c. 1480-1542), a Spanish military commander who participated in the conquest of the Americas alongside Hernán Cortés. He is recorded as having played a significant role in the Battle of Centla, a crucial engagement during the Spanish conquest of Mexico.

Another individual of historical significance was María Derivera (c. 1520-1587), a renowned midwife and herbalist from the city of Granada. She was widely respected for her expertise in traditional medicine and is mentioned in several contemporary accounts as a trusted practitioner among the local population.

In the 17th century, the DERIVERA surname appeared in various documents from the Spanish colonies in the Americas, particularly in Mexico and Peru. One such individual was Pedro Derivera (c. 1610-1675), a Spanish settler who established a successful agricultural enterprise in the region of Puebla, Mexico, and was known for his contributions to the local economy.

A more contemporary figure was Miguel Derivera (1885-1962), a Spanish painter and sculptor who gained recognition for his works depicting scenes from rural life in Andalusia. His paintings and sculptures are housed in several museums across Spain and are considered valuable representations of the region's cultural heritage.

Throughout its history, the surname DERIVERA has maintained a strong presence in Spain, particularly in the southern regions of Andalusia and the areas surrounding the cities of Seville and Granada. While the specific origins of the name remain somewhat uncertain, its longevity and presence in historical records spanning several centuries attest to its enduring significance within the Spanish cultural landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DeRivera

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

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 DeRivera was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 15.79% 33
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 18.66% 39
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin 63.64% 133

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 15.79% 30.46% -63.44%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 18.66% 20.53% -9.54%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 63.64% 48.34% 27.33%

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

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

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"DeRivera last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/derivera-surname-popularity/.

"DeRivera last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/derivera-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

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

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