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

Leiva, 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 Leiva surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leiva in America

Leiva is the 4335th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leiva surname appeared 8,193 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Leiva.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leiva 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 Leiva

The surname LEIVA is of Spanish origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. The name is believed to have derived from the Latin word "leva," which means "smooth" or "polished." It may have originated as a descriptive surname for someone who was known for their smooth or polished appearance or demeanor.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname LEIVA can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries in the regions of Andalusia and Murcia, located in southern Spain. Some of the earliest records of the name appear in municipal records and tax rolls from these areas.

One notable historical reference to the surname LEIVA can be found in the "Libro de la Montería," a 14th-century manuscript that details the hunting exploits of King Alfonso XI of Castile. The book mentions a Juan de Leiva, who was a nobleman and hunting companion of the king.

In the 15th century, the LEIVA surname gained prominence with the rise of Sancho Martínez de Leiva (1501-1567), a Spanish military commander who served under Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. He was renowned for his victories in the Italian Wars and is considered one of the greatest military leaders of his time.

Another notable figure with the LEIVA surname was Diego de Leiva (1530-1613), a Spanish diplomat and ambassador to the Holy See during the reign of Philip II. He played a crucial role in negotiating the Peace of Vervins in 1598, which ended the long-running war between France and Spain.

In the 17th century, Pedro de Leiva y Zúñiga (1608-1676) was a Spanish nobleman and military officer who served as the Governor of Galicia and later as the Viceroy of Valencia. He was known for his efforts in fortifying the coastal defenses of these regions against foreign threats.

During the 18th century, Juan Manuel de Leiva (1735-1810) was a prominent Spanish naval officer who participated in several important battles during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Spanish Navy and was awarded numerous honors for his distinguished service.

Throughout history, the LEIVA surname has also been associated with various place names and variations in spelling. For example, the town of Leiva in the province of Navarra, Spain, may have derived its name from the surname, or vice versa. Additionally, variations such as Leyva, Lieva, and Leva have been recorded in historical documents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leiva

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

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

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

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