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

Mascarenhas, 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 Mascarenhas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mascarenhas in America

Mascarenhas is the 33731st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mascarenhas surname appeared 675 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 Mascarenhas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mascarenhas 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 Mascarenhas

The surname Mascarenhas originates from Portugal and dates back to the 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Portuguese words "mascarar" (to mask) and "enhas" (small vineyards), suggesting a possible association with the region's wine-producing areas or perhaps a connection to a family involved in the production of wines or vineyards.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be traced back to the island of Madeira, where it was commonly found among the Portuguese nobility and landowners. In the 16th century, the name appeared in various historical documents, including land deeds and church records, indicating its presence in the region during that time period.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Mascarenhas was João Fernandes Mascarenhas, a Portuguese explorer and navigator who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He is credited with discovering the islands of Réunion and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, which were initially known as the Mascarene Islands, likely named after him.

Another notable figure was Pedro Mascarenhas, a 16th-century Portuguese military commander and explorer who served as the Captain of Malacca (present-day Malaysia) and later as the Governor of Portuguese India. His expeditions and conquests played a significant role in expanding Portuguese influence in the Indian Ocean region.

In the 17th century, the name Mascarenhas gained prominence in Brazil, where members of the family were among the early Portuguese settlers and landowners. Notable individuals from this period include Brás Mascarenhas, a wealthy landowner and cattle rancher in the state of Bahia, and Antônio Mascarenhas, a Jesuit priest and missionary who worked among the indigenous populations of Brazil.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname Mascarenhas was associated with several notable figures in Portuguese and Brazilian history. For example, José Mascarenhas Pacheco Coelho was a prominent Portuguese politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the early 19th century.

In Brazil, Joaquim Mascarenhas Borges was a prominent lawyer, journalist, and politician who played a significant role in the abolitionist movement and the abolition of slavery in the country in the late 19th century.

Throughout its history, the surname Mascarenhas has been associated with nobility, landowners, military leaders, explorers, and influential figures in various fields, reflecting its strong Portuguese roots and widespread presence in Portugal, Brazil, and other regions influenced by Portuguese colonization and migration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mascarenhas

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

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

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

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