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

Girau, 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 Girau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Girau in America

Girau is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Girau surname appeared 123 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 Girau.

The history of the last name Girau

The surname GIRAU is of Catalan origin, originating in the Catalonia region of northeastern Spain and southeastern France. Its earliest roots can be traced back to the 12th century, derived from the Catalan word "gira," meaning "turn" or "twist." It is believed to have been an occupational surname initially assigned to those who worked as turners or those involved in crafts that required twisting or turning, such as rope-making or carpentry.

The name appears in various historical records from the region, including the "Llibre del Repartiment" (Book of Redistribution), a 13th-century document detailing the distribution of lands and properties in the Kingdom of Valencia after the Reconquista. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is that of Bernat Girau, a landowner mentioned in the document around 1238.

During the 14th century, the surname GIRAU gained prominence in the city of Barcelona, where several notable individuals bore the name. One such person was Francesc Girau, a prominent merchant and citizen of Barcelona, who lived from approximately 1320 to 1390. Another was Guillem Girau, a respected lawyer and legal scholar active in the city during the same period.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various records related to the Catalan-Aragonese expeditions and conquests in the Mediterranean. A notable figure was Joan Girau, a navigator and explorer who accompanied the Aragonese king Alfonso V during the conquest of Naples in 1442.

The name also spread beyond the Catalan regions, with instances of individuals bearing the GIRAU surname appearing in other parts of Spain and even in the Americas during the colonial era. One such example is Pedro Girau, a Spanish soldier and explorer who participated in the conquest of Peru under Francisco Pizarro in the 16th century.

Another significant bearer of the GIRAU surname was Miguel Girau y Romaguera, a Spanish military officer and governor of Puerto Rico in the late 18th century. He played a crucial role in fortifying the island's defenses against potential attacks from British and French forces during his tenure from 1793 to 1798.

It is worth noting that variations in the spelling of the surname, such as Giraut, Girault, and Giraudo, can be found in historical records, reflecting the linguistic diversity and regional variations within the Catalan and Spanish territories.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Girau

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

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

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

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