Narvaes
Of Spanish origin, referring to people from the town of Narvarte or to someone from the Navarrese region.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Narvaes. That puts it at #115,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Narvaes surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#115,639
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
151
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 151 bearers of the surname Narvaes in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 115639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Narvaes, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 89.4%. The next largest groups are White (8.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Narvaes
The surname NARVAES originated in Spain during the medieval period, around the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish place name Narvarte, which itself comes from the Basque words "narru" meaning leather and "arte" meaning valley or pass, referring to a valley or pass where leather goods were produced or traded.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name NARVAES can be found in the Becerro de Behetrías, a medieval Spanish census document from the 14th century, where it appears as "Narváez". This suggests that the name had already been established in Spain by that time.
In the late 15th century, a notable figure named Pánfilo de Narváez (1470-1528) gained prominence as a Spanish conquistador and soldier. He participated in the conquest of Cuba and led an unsuccessful expedition to Florida, where he was ultimately lost at sea.
Another early bearer of the NARVAES name was Juan Fernández de Narváez (1491-1547), a Spanish explorer and military commander who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés.
During the 16th century, the name NARVAES also appeared in various legal and administrative documents in Spain, such as the Catastro de Ensenada, a census conducted in the mid-18th century.
In the 17th century, a notable figure named Pedro Fernández de Navarrete (1618-1687) was a Spanish painter and writer who served as the secretary to King Philip IV of Spain.
In the 19th century, Ramón Narváez y Campos (1800-1868) was a Spanish military officer and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Spain on two occasions.
The NARVAES surname has also been found in various parts of Latin America, likely carried there by Spanish settlers and immigrants during the colonial era.
Overall, the NARVAES surname has a long history rooted in Spain, with its origins tracing back to the medieval period and a possible connection to the Basque language and leather trade. It has been borne by notable figures throughout Spanish and Latin American history, from conquistadors and explorers to military leaders and statesmen.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Narvaes
Among Census respondents with the surname Narvaes, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 89.4%. The next largest groups are White (8.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Narvaes bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Narvaes surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino89.4%
- White8.6%
- Unknown or suppressed2.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Narvaes surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #129,619 | #115,639 | 10.8% |
| Count | 121 | 151 | 24.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.05 | 25.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Narvaes bearers went from 121 to 151 (+24.8% change). The surname moved up 13,980 positions in the national ranking, going from #129,619 to #115,639.
FAQ
Narvaes surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Narvaes?
The surname Narvaes holds position #115,639 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Narvaes surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Narvaes, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 89.4%. The next largest groups are White (8.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.