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

Ferreira, 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 Ferreira surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ferreira in America

Ferreira is the 1260th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ferreira surname appeared 27,898 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Ferreira.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ferreira 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 Ferreira

The surname FERREIRA originated in Portugal and Spain during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "ferrarius", which means "blacksmith" or "worker of iron". The name was initially used as an occupational surname for those who worked as blacksmiths or in the iron industry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the FERREIRA surname can be found in the Livro Velho de Linhagens (Old Book of Lineages), a Portuguese genealogical record dating back to the 13th century. This document mentions several individuals with the FERREIRA surname, suggesting that the name was already well-established in Portugal by that time.

In Spain, the FERREIRA surname can be traced back to the 14th century, with records indicating its presence in various regions, including Galicia, Asturias, and Castile. The name was sometimes spelled as "Ferreiro" or "Herrero" in Spanish documents.

Historically, the FERREIRA surname has been associated with several notable figures. One of the earliest was Gil Ferreira, a 13th-century Portuguese knight who participated in the Reconquista, the campaign to reclaim Iberian territories from Moorish rule. Another prominent individual was João Ferreira, a 15th-century Portuguese explorer and navigator who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his historic voyage to India in 1498.

In the 16th century, the FERREIRA surname gained further prominence with the birth of António Ferreira (1528-1569), a renowned Portuguese poet and playwright often referred to as the "Portuguese Horace". His works, which included tragedies and comedies, were influential in the development of Portuguese Renaissance literature.

During the 17th century, the FERREIRA surname was carried to various parts of the world by Portuguese and Spanish explorers, settlers, and missionaries. Notably, Cristóvão Ferreira (1580-1650), a Portuguese Jesuit missionary, played a significant role in the early evangelization efforts in Japan.

Another notable figure was Manuel Ferreira de Eça (1675-1743), a Portuguese architect and military engineer who designed several fortifications and buildings in Brazil during the colonial period, including the Fortaleza de Santa Cruz in Niterói.

As the FERREIRA surname spread across the globe, it became associated with various place names and geographical locations. For example, in Brazil, there is a city called Ferreira Gomes in the state of Amapá, and a municipality called Ferreiros in the state of Pernambuco, both likely named after individuals with the FERREIRA surname.

Throughout its history, the FERREIRA surname has maintained its connection to the iron industry and metalworking professions. However, it has also been embraced by individuals from various backgrounds and walks of life, reflecting the diverse tapestry of cultures and societies in which it has taken root.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ferreira

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

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

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

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