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

Leivas, 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 Leivas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leivas in America

Leivas is the 51176th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leivas surname appeared 407 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 Leivas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leivas 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 Leivas

The surname Leivas is of Spanish origin, with roots that can be traced back to the regions of Andalusia and Murcia in southern Spain. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, possibly derived from the Arabic word "al-iwaz," which means "protection" or "refuge."

In the 13th century, records indicate that a family with the name Leivas resided in the city of Seville, playing a prominent role in the local community. One of the earliest documented references to the surname can be found in the Repartimiento de Sevilla, a historical document detailing the distribution of land and properties in the region after the Reconquista.

During the 15th century, the Leivas family gained prominence in the town of Lorca, located in the province of Murcia. Notable members included Juan Leivas (1420-1489), a respected landowner and merchant, and Catalina Leivas (1452-1521), who was known for her philanthropic efforts in supporting local churches and charities.

As the centuries passed, the Leivas surname spread across Spain and eventually made its way to Spanish colonies in the Americas. One notable figure was Diego de Leivas (1565-1632), a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of present-day Mexico and later served as a colonial administrator in New Spain.

In the 18th century, the Leivas family established roots in the Caribbean, with several members settling in Cuba and Puerto Rico. One notable individual was Andrés Leivas (1712-1784), a wealthy plantation owner and influential figure in the Cuban sugar industry.

Another significant figure in the history of the Leivas surname was María Leivas (1835-1912), a renowned Spanish writer and poet who gained recognition for her contributions to the Romantic literary movement. Her works explored themes of love, nature, and the human experience, earning her critical acclaim in her lifetime.

Throughout the centuries, the Leivas surname has also been associated with various locations and place names in Spain. For instance, the town of Leiva in the province of Burgos, as well as the Leiva River in Andalusia, may have connections to the surname's origins or early bearers.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and heritage associated with the surname Leivas, which has left an indelible mark across Spain, Latin America, and beyond, through the accomplishments and contributions of its bearers over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leivas

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

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

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

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