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

Freitas, 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 Freitas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Freitas in America

Freitas is the 3270th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Freitas surname appeared 11,041 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Freitas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Freitas 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 Freitas

The surname Freitas has its origins in Portugal and is derived from the Portuguese word "freita" which means "valley" or "ravine". It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Portugal, specifically in the areas around the cities of Porto and Braga, where many valleys and ravines are found.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Freitas dates back to the 13th century, appearing in documents related to land ownership and taxation. During this time, it was common for individuals to be identified by their place of origin or residence, and the name Freitas likely referred to someone who lived near or in a particular valley or ravine.

In the 15th century, the surname Freitas appeared in the records of the Portuguese Inquisition, indicating that individuals bearing this name were subject to scrutiny due to their religious beliefs or practices. This suggests that the name had already gained some prominence by that time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Freitas was João de Freitas, a Portuguese explorer who was born in the late 15th century and participated in several expeditions to the coast of Africa and the Indian Ocean.

Another notable figure was Gaspar de Freitas, a Portuguese nobleman and military commander who lived in the 16th century. He played a significant role in the Portuguese conquest of the Malay Archipelago and was known for his bravery and strategic skills.

In the 17th century, the surname Freitas was closely associated with the Portuguese colonization of Brazil. António de Freitas, born in 1621, was one of the first settlers in the region of Rio de Janeiro and played a crucial role in establishing the city's infrastructure and defenses.

Later in the 18th century, José Joaquim de Freitas, born in 1760, was a prominent Portuguese lawyer and judge who served as a member of the Supreme Court of Justice in Lisbon.

Another notable individual was Francisco de Freitas, a Portuguese playwright and poet who lived in the 19th century. He was born in 1817 and is celebrated for his contributions to the development of Portuguese theater and literature.

Throughout its history, the surname Freitas has been associated with various areas of achievement, including exploration, military service, law, and the arts, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Freitas

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

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

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

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