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

Garrafa, 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 Garrafa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Garrafa in America

Garrafa is the 135593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Garrafa surname appeared 124 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 Garrafa.

The history of the last name Garrafa

The surname Garrafa is of Spanish origin, derived from the Spanish word "garrafa" which means a large glass bottle or carafe. The name likely originated in the 16th or 17th century, possibly referring to someone who worked with glass bottles or carafes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Garrafa surname dates back to the late 17th century, when a Juan Garrafa was mentioned in a parish record from the city of Seville, Spain. It's possible that the name may have originated in this region, where glassmaking was a prominent industry.

In the 18th century, the Garrafa surname appeared in several Spanish colonial records from the Americas, suggesting that individuals with this name may have been among the early settlers in the New World. For example, a Pedro Garrafa was listed as a landowner in a 1765 census record from the town of Guayama, Puerto Rico.

One notable bearer of the Garrafa name was Francisco Garrafa (1792-1865), a Spanish painter and engraver who was known for his detailed etchings of architectural subjects. His works are preserved in several art collections across Spain.

Another individual of historical significance was Mariana Garrafa (1815-1898), a Venezuelan educator and women's rights advocate who founded one of the first schools for girls in Caracas. She played a pivotal role in promoting female education in Venezuela during the 19th century.

In the 20th century, the Garrafa surname gained recognition through the accomplishments of Juan Antonio Garrafa (1901-1978), a Cuban composer and musician who is considered a pioneer of the son cubano genre. His compositions, such as "El Manisero" and "Drume Negrita," have become beloved classics in Cuban music.

Another notable figure was Mercedes Garrafa (1920-2008), a Spanish author and journalist who wrote extensively about the history and culture of her native Andalusia region. Her works, including "Cuentos y Leyendas de Andalucía" and "Tradiciones Populares Andaluzas," helped preserve and promote the rich folklore and traditions of southern Spain.

Overall, while not an extremely common surname, Garrafa has a long and diverse history, spanning multiple countries and cultural contexts, with various individuals leaving their mark across various fields, from the arts and music to education and literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Garrafa

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

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 Garrafa 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.

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

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

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