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

Erra, 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 Erra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Erra in America

Erra is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Erra surname appeared 109 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 Erra.

The history of the last name Erra

The surname Erra is believed to have originated from the northern region of Spain, particularly in the Basque Country and the neighboring areas of Navarre and Aragon. Its roots can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 8th to 10th centuries.

One possible origin of the name Erra is derived from the Basque word "erre," which means "to burn" or "to set on fire." This connection suggests that the surname may have been initially associated with professions or activities related to fire, such as blacksmiths, glassmakers, or charcoal burners.

Another theory suggests that the name Erra could be linked to the ancient Iberian language, which predates the arrival of the Romans in the region. The word "erra" in Iberian may have referred to a geographic feature or a specific location, potentially a village or settlement where the name originated.

Early records mentioning individuals with the surname Erra are scarce, as documentation from that era is limited. However, one notable reference can be found in the "Cartulario de San Millán de la Cogolla," a medieval manuscript dating back to the 11th century, which contains a record of a person named "Enneco Erra" from the village of Albelda in La Rioja.

The earliest known person of prominence bearing the surname Erra was Juan Erra, a Basque nobleman and military commander who lived in the late 14th century. He played a significant role in the conflicts between the Kingdom of Navarre and the Crown of Aragon during that period.

In the 15th century, Pedro Erra, a prominent scholar and churchman, served as the Bishop of Calahorra and La Calzada from 1447 to 1470. He was known for his contributions to the city's religious and cultural life.

During the 16th century, Martín Erra (1510-1578) was a renowned sculptor and architect from Navarre. He was responsible for the design and construction of several churches and religious buildings in the region, including the Church of Santa María la Real in Olite.

In the 17th century, Catalina Erra (1635-1705) was a notable figure in the history of Navarre. She was a wealthy landowner and philanthropist who donated substantial funds for the establishment of schools and hospitals in her hometown of Tafalla.

Lastly, in the 19th century, Juan Bautista Erra (1820-1890) was a prominent Basque poet and writer. He was known for his works in the Basque language, which helped preserve and promote the region's cultural heritage during that time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Erra

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

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

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

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