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

Moreta, 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 Moreta surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Moreta in America

Moreta is the 27646th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Moreta surname appeared 870 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 Moreta.

We can also compare 2010 data for Moreta 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 Moreta

The surname Moreta has its origins in Spain and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Spanish region of Aragon, where it was derived from the Catalan word "moreta," which means "little Moor." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals of Moorish descent or those associated with the Moorish culture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Moreta can be found in the "Libro de los Fueros de Aragón" (Book of the Fueros of Aragon), a legal code compiled in the 13th century. In this document, the name appears as "Moreto" and is likely a variant spelling of the same surname.

During the Reconquista, the period when Christian kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula sought to reclaim territories controlled by the Moors, the name Moreta may have been adopted by individuals who converted to Christianity from Islam or those who had Moorish ancestry.

In the 15th century, there are records of a prominent family named Moreta in the city of Barcelona. One notable member was Juan Moreta (1420-1492), a merchant and diplomat who played a significant role in the negotiations that led to the marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, effectively uniting Spain.

Another historic figure bearing the surname Moreta was María Moreta (1530-1605), a renowned poet and writer from Zaragoza. Her works, which often explored themes of love and spirituality, were widely acclaimed during the Spanish Golden Age.

In the 17th century, the Moreta family established a presence in the Americas, with several members settling in the Spanish colonies. One such individual was Tomás Moreta (1612-1678), a navigator and explorer who is credited with charting parts of the Pacific coast of Mexico.

During the 19th century, the surname Moreta gained recognition in the field of literature with the author and playwright José Moreta y Vidal (1828-1897). Born in Valencia, his works often depicted the cultural and social landscapes of his native region.

Throughout its history, the surname Moreta has been associated with various occupations, including merchants, diplomats, poets, explorers, and writers. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval Spain, its legacy has extended across continents and centuries, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of the Spanish-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Moreta

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

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

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

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