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

Mares, 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 Mares surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mares in America

Mares is the 2427th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mares surname appeared 14,931 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Mares.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mares 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 Mares

The surname Mares originated from the Spanish language and has its roots in the Iberian Peninsula during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "mare," which means "sea" or "ocean." This name was likely given to individuals who lived near the sea or were associated with maritime activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Mares can be found in the 13th century in the region of Catalonia, Spain. Historical records from that time mention a family with the surname Mares residing in the coastal town of Tarragona. The name's connection to the sea is further reinforced by the area's proximity to the Mediterranean Sea.

In the 14th century, the surname Mares appeared in various documents and records from the Kingdom of Aragon, which included parts of modern-day Spain and the Balearic Islands. One notable example is Francisco Mares, a merchant born in Valencia in 1387, who was involved in maritime trade and had business dealings with Italian merchants.

During the 15th century, the surname Mares spread to other parts of Spain, including the region of Andalusia. In 1492, a man named Juan Mares was recorded as being part of the crew on Christopher Columbus's first voyage to the Americas, further solidifying the name's connection to maritime endeavors.

As the Spanish Empire expanded in the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Mares was carried to the colonies in the Americas and the Philippines. One prominent individual bearing this name was Pedro Mares de Ávila, born in 1564 in Seville, Spain. He served as a conquistador and was involved in the conquest of Chile and the exploration of the Pacific Ocean.

Throughout history, various spellings and variations of the surname Mares have existed, including Marés, Marés, and Marès. These variations often reflected regional linguistic differences or personal preferences in orthography.

Other notable individuals with the surname Mares include:

1. Antonio Mares (1744-1823), a Spanish military officer and governor of Texas during the Spanish colonial period.
2. Margarita Mares (1802-1890), a Mexican-American landowner and rancher in California, known for her role in the preservation of Spanish culture and traditions.
3. Juan Mares Sánchez (1879-1961), a Spanish painter and sculptor from Seville, renowned for his works depicting religious and historical themes.
4. Emilio Mares (1888-1976), a Chilean poet and journalist, considered one of the pioneers of modern poetry in Chile.
5. María Mares (1910-1997), a Mexican actress and dancer, known for her performances in various Mexican films and stage productions.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals bearing the surname Mares throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence across different regions and centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mares

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

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

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

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