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

Figueiras, 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 Figueiras surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Figueiras in America

Figueiras is the 84463rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Figueiras surname appeared 222 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 Figueiras.

We can also compare 2010 data for Figueiras 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 Figueiras

The surname Figueiras originates from Portugal and Spain, emerging in the late 15th century. It is derived from the Portuguese word "figueira," meaning fig tree, suggesting that the name's earliest bearers may have lived near or worked with fig trees. Historically, the name was concentrated in the northern regions of Portugal and the Spanish province of Galicia.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Figueiras name appears in the municipal records of Braga, Portugal, dated 1487, referring to a certain Afonso Figueiras, a landowner. In the 16th century, the name can be found in various documents from the region, such as tax rolls and property deeds, often spelled as "Figuerias" or "Figueyras."

During the Age of Exploration, some Figueiras individuals may have participated in the voyages of Portuguese explorers and navigators. For instance, historical records mention a João Figueiras, a sailor aboard one of Ferdinand Magellan's ships during his famous circumnavigation of the globe in the early 1500s.

In the 17th century, the Figueiras name gained prominence in the northern Portuguese city of Viana do Castelo, where several members of the family held influential positions in the local government and church. One notable figure was Padre Manuel Figueiras (1612-1683), a Jesuit priest and scholar who authored several religious texts.

As the centuries passed, the Figueiras name spread throughout Portugal and Spain, with some members emigrating to the Americas and other parts of the world. In the 19th century, a prominent Figueiras family established itself in Brazil, where they became influential landowners and businessmen. One famous member was Antônio Figueiras (1822-1888), a wealthy coffee plantation owner and philanthropist in the state of São Paulo.

Another notable figure was José Figueiras (1904-1975), a Spanish architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the development of modern Barcelona. His designs included the Plaza de la Encarnación and several notable buildings in the city's Eixample district.

Other historical figures bearing the Figueiras surname include Manuel Figueiras (1892-1976), a Portuguese painter and artist known for his landscapes and seascapes, and Carlos Figueiras (1915-1996), a Galician writer and poet who was a prominent figure in the Galician cultural renaissance of the 20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Figueiras

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

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

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

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