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

Lopes, 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 Lopes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lopes in America

Lopes is the 1976th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lopes surname appeared 18,310 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Lopes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lopes 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 Lopes

The surname Lopes has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Portugal and Spain. It is derived from the Latin word "lupus," meaning "wolf." The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages as a nickname or descriptive term, possibly referring to a person's physical appearance, behavior, or occupation related to wolves or hunting.

In Portugal, the surname Lopes can be traced back to the 12th century, with records indicating its presence in various regions, including the northern areas of Entre-Douro e Minho and Trás-os-Montes. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Fernão Lopes, a renowned Portuguese chronicler who lived from around 1380 to 1459. He is celebrated for his comprehensive chronicles of the reigns of Portuguese kings, providing invaluable historical accounts.

The surname Lopes also has a long history in Spain, particularly in regions like Galicia and Castile. In the 13th century, the name appeared in documents such as the Libro de las Behetrías de Castilla, which recorded landowners and their properties. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Lope de Vega (1562-1635), a celebrated Spanish playwright and poet considered one of the greatest figures in the Spanish Golden Age of literature.

In the 15th century, the surname Lopes gained prominence in Portugal with the explorer Fernão Lopes de Azevedo, who embarked on voyages to the coast of Africa and was instrumental in establishing trade routes and settlements. Another notable figure was Pedro Lopes de Sousa (1530-1586), a Portuguese military commander who played a significant role in the Portuguese colonial expansion in Brazil.

During the Age of Exploration, the surname Lopes spread to various parts of the world as Portuguese and Spanish explorers, settlers, and colonists ventured to new territories. It can be found in regions with strong Portuguese and Spanish influences, such as South America, Africa, and parts of Asia.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname Lopes include João Lopes Carrilho (1513-1597), a Portuguese navigator and explorer known for his expeditions to the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, and Fernão Lopes de Castanheda (1500-1559), a Portuguese historian and author who wrote extensively about the Portuguese discoveries and conquests in the Indian Ocean region.

Overall, the surname Lopes has a rich historical background, reflecting the cultural and linguistic influences of the Iberian Peninsula and its far-reaching global presence during the era of exploration and colonization.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lopes

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

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

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

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