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

Gira, 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 Gira surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gira in America

Gira is the 85049th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gira surname appeared 220 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 Gira.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gira 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 Gira

The surname GIRA has its origins in the Italian region of Lombardy, dating back to the early 13th century. Derived from the Italian word "giro," which means "turn" or "circle," the name is believed to have been originally associated with those who lived near a curved or winding road or path.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GIRA surname can be found in the historical records of the city of Milan, where a certain Girolamo GIRA was documented as a prominent merchant in the year 1265. In the following centuries, the name spread to other parts of northern Italy, including the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Veneto.

During the Renaissance period, a notable figure bearing the GIRA surname was Domenico GIRA, a renowned painter born in Verona in 1535. His works, which often depicted religious scenes and landscapes, can still be found in various churches and museums across Italy.

In the 17th century, the GIRA family established itself in the town of Monza, near Milan. Francesco GIRA (1620-1688), a respected lawyer and judge, was particularly influential in shaping the local legal system and advocating for fair trials.

As the name spread beyond Italy, it also took on various spellings and adaptations. In Spain, for instance, the surname GIRA is sometimes rendered as JIRA or XIRA, reflecting the influence of regional dialects.

Another notable figure with the GIRA surname was Giovanni Battista GIRA (1735-1799), a celebrated playwright and librettist from Venice. His collaborations with renowned composers such as Baldassare Galuppi and Antonio Salieri contributed significantly to the development of Italian opera in the 18th century.

Throughout the centuries, the GIRA surname has been carried by individuals from diverse walks of life, including artists, scholars, politicians, and entrepreneurs. While the name may have originated from a humble association with a winding road, its bearers have left their mark on various aspects of Italian and European history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gira

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

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

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

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