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

Junqueira, 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 Junqueira surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Junqueira in America

Junqueira is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Junqueira surname appeared 120 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 Junqueira.

The history of the last name Junqueira

The surname "JUNQUEIRA" originates from Portugal, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Portuguese word "junco," meaning "rush" or "reed," and the suffix "-eira," indicating a place or area. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived in an area abundant with rushes or reeds.

The earliest known record of this surname can be traced back to the 13th century in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. It was often associated with place names like "Junqueira" or "Junqueiras," which were likely areas or settlements where rushes or reeds were prevalent.

One of the earliest documented references to the name "JUNQUEIRA" can be found in the "Livro de Linhagens" (Book of Lineages), a Portuguese genealogical record compiled in the 14th century. This work mentions several individuals with this surname, indicating its presence among the Portuguese nobility and gentry of that time.

During the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries, many Portuguese with the surname "JUNQUEIRA" participated in voyages of discovery and settlement across the globe. Notable figures include:

1. Afonso Junqueira (c. 1490-1560), a Portuguese explorer and navigator who accompanied Fernão de Magalhães (Magellan) on his famous expedition that circumnavigated the globe.

2. Tomé Junqueira (1520-1589), a Portuguese colonist who settled in Brazil and became one of the first landowners in the region of São Vicente.

In later centuries, individuals with the surname "JUNQUEIRA" continued to make their mark in various fields:

3. José Junqueira (1778-1847), a Brazilian politician and landowner who played a prominent role during the Brazilian Empire.

4. Raul Junqueira (1887-1967), a renowned Brazilian historian and author known for his works on the history of São Paulo.

5. Márcio Junqueira (born 1976), a Brazilian race car driver who has competed in various prestigious events, including the Indianapolis 500.

While the surname "JUNQUEIRA" is still relatively common in Portugal and Brazil, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Junqueira

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

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

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

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