Find out how popular the last name Loureiro is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Loureiro.
A surname originating from Portugal referring to laurel trees or laurel wood.
Loureiro, 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 Loureiro surname is from the 2010 census data.
Loureiro is the 24466th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Loureiro surname appeared 1,023 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 Loureiro.
We can also compare 2010 data for Loureiro 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.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 24466 | 29099 | -17.30% |
| Count | 1,023 | 767 | 28.60% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.35 | 0.28 | 22.22% |
The surname Loureiro originates from Portugal, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Portuguese word "loureiro," which means laurel tree. It is believed that the name was initially given to families or individuals who lived near or owned land with an abundance of laurel trees.
Loureiro is a locational surname, indicating that the family's ancestors may have resided in or near a place with a significant presence of laurel trees. Some early variations of the spelling include Loureyro, Laureiro, and Laureiro. These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in written records during that time period.
One of the earliest known references to the surname Loureiro can be found in the Livro Velho de Linhagens, a 14th-century Portuguese genealogical manuscript. This document mentions several individuals with the surname, suggesting that the name was already well-established in various regions of Portugal by that time.
In the 15th century, a notable figure named Fernão Loureiro served as a navigator and explorer for the Portuguese Crown. He participated in several expeditions to Africa and the Atlantic islands, contributing to the expansion of Portuguese maritime exploration during that era.
During the 16th century, the Loureiro surname gained prominence in Portugal's colonial endeavors. João Loureiro (1505-1568), a Portuguese soldier and explorer, played a significant role in the conquest and settlement of Brazil. He is recognized as one of the founders of the city of São Paulo.
In the 17th century, Manuel Loureiro (1635-1713), a Portuguese botanist and missionary, made substantial contributions to the study of flora in Southeast Asia. His work, "Flora Cochinchinensis," published in 1790, was a pioneering effort in documenting the plant species found in the region now known as Vietnam.
Another notable figure with the Loureiro surname was João Loureiro (1717-1791), a Portuguese Jesuit priest and scholar. He served as a missionary in China and made significant contributions to the study of Chinese culture, language, and history.
Throughout the centuries, the Loureiro surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, politicians, and religious figures. While the name's origins can be traced back to Portugal, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and the diaspora of Portuguese communities.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Loureiro.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Loureiro was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 71.95% | 736 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.76% | 18 |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 1.96% | 20 |
| Hispanic Origin | 23.17% | 237 |
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 Loureiro has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 71.95% | 73.79% | -2.53% |
| Black | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.76% | 1.17% | 40.27% |
| Two or More Races | 1.96% | 3.13% | -45.97% |
| Hispanic | 23.17% | 21.51% | 7.43% |
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 Loureiro was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Loureiro, please contact us.
We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.
If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!
<a href="https://namecensus.com/last-names/loureiro-surname-popularity/">Loureiro last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.
Simple as that.