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

Ferniza, 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 Ferniza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ferniza in America

Ferniza is the 126018th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ferniza surname appeared 136 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 Ferniza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ferniza 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 Ferniza

The surname Ferniza is believed to have originated in Portugal during the medieval period, likely as a locational name derived from a small village or settlement. Some scholars suggest it may be linked to the Latin word "farina," meaning "flour," indicating an association with mills or flour production in the area where the name first emerged.

Early records from the 13th and 14th centuries show variations of the spelling, such as Ferniza, Ferniza, and Fernija, appearing in documents and manuscripts from the northern regions of Portugal. This suggests the name may have roots in the provinces of Minho or Douro Litoral.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Ferniza surname was João Ferniza, a nobleman who lived in the town of Barcelos in the late 14th century. Historical records mention him as a landowner and influential figure in the local community.

In the 15th century, the name appears in the chronicles of the Portuguese explorer and navigator, Diogo Ferniza (c. 1435 - 1501), who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his pioneering voyage to India in 1497-1499. Ferniza is credited with being one of the first Europeans to document the flora and fauna of the Indian subcontinent.

During the Portuguese colonization of Brazil in the 16th and 17th centuries, several individuals with the Ferniza surname can be found among the early settlers and administrators in the captaincies of Pernambuco and Bahia. Notably, Rodrigo Ferniza (c. 1570 - 1632) served as a magistrate and judge in the city of Salvador.

In the realm of literature, the name is associated with the 18th-century Portuguese poet and playwright, António Ferniza (1725 - 1798), whose works were influential in the development of the Portuguese Arcadian movement.

Another notable figure was Maria Ferniza (1810 - 1888), a philanthropist and social reformer from Lisbon, who dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and establishing orphanages and shelters across the country.

While the Ferniza surname is relatively uncommon today, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in Portugal, with a rich history spanning various fields, from exploration and colonization to literature and social activism.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ferniza

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

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

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

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