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

Freites, 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 Freites surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Freites in America

Freites is the 98982nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Freites surname appeared 183 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 Freites.

We can also compare 2010 data for Freites 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 Freites

The surname Freites has its origins in Spain, specifically in the Canary Islands. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "freit," which means "friar" or "monk." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a monastery or had some association with religious orders.

The earliest recorded instances of the Freites surname can be traced back to the 16th century in the Canary Islands. During this time, the archipelago was under Spanish rule, and many families adopted surnames to establish their identities and lineages. The name Freites was most prevalent on the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

In the 17th century, a notable individual with the surname Freites was Juan Freites, a prominent landowner and agricultural entrepreneur in Tenerife. His estate, known as the "Hacienda de Freites," played a significant role in the island's economy and contributed to the region's prosperity.

As the Spanish Empire expanded, the Freites surname began to appear in various Spanish colonial territories. In the late 18th century, records show a man named José Freites who served as a military officer in the Spanish colonies of South America.

During the 19th century, the Freites surname gained recognition in literature and arts. One notable figure was Pedro Freites, a Venezuelan poet and writer born in 1805. His works celebrated the natural beauty of his homeland and explored themes of love and patriotism.

Another distinguished individual with this surname was María Freites, a renowned Spanish painter born in 1876. She was celebrated for her vibrant and expressive portraits, and her works were exhibited in galleries across Europe.

In the 20th century, the Freites surname continued to be carried by notable individuals in various fields. For example, Enrique Freites was a Venezuelan politician and diplomat who served as the ambassador to the United States from 1945 to 1948.

Overall, the surname Freites has a rich history that can be traced back to the Canary Islands and the Spanish colonial era. While its origin may be linked to religious orders, the name has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including landowners, writers, artists, and diplomats.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Freites

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

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

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

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