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

Lares, 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 Lares surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lares in America

Lares is the 8700th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lares surname appeared 3,773 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Lares.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lares 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 Lares

The surname LARES is believed to have originated from the Latin word "lares," which refers to household gods or deities in ancient Roman religion and culture. This name can be traced back to ancient Italy, where the worship of these deities was prevalent.

In the early days of ancient Rome, the LARES were considered the protectors of households, families, and communities. They were often depicted as small figurines or statuettes placed in a special shrine or altar within the home. The name LARES likely emerged as a way to identify individuals or families associated with the worship or service of these deities.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name LARES can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Livy, who lived from 59 BC to 17 AD. Livy mentioned the LARES in his historical accounts, providing insights into their significance in Roman society.

During the Middle Ages, the name LARES continued to be used, although its connection to the ancient Roman deities may have faded over time. It is possible that the name evolved into various spellings or variations, such as Lares, Laris, or Larez, depending on the region and language influences.

Notable individuals bearing the surname LARES include:

1. Giulio Lares (c. 1510 - 1570), an Italian Renaissance painter known for his works in churches and palaces throughout Italy.
2. Pedro de Lares (1550 - 1612), a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied several expeditions to the Americas in the late 16th century.
3. Maria Lares (1680 - 1742), a Spanish noblewoman and philanthropist who established several charitable institutions in her hometown of Seville.
4. Giovanni Battista Lares (1775 - 1858), an Italian composer and violinist who served as the court musician for the Duke of Parma.
5. Lucía Lares (1860 - 1932), a Mexican educator and advocate for women's rights, who established several schools for girls in her home state of Veracruz.

While the surname LARES may have originated from the ancient Roman deities, it has since taken on various meanings and associations throughout history, reflecting the diverse cultures and regions where it has been present.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lares

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

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

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

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