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

Narvais, 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 Narvais surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Narvais in America

Narvais is the 110825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Narvais surname appeared 159 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 Narvais.

We can also compare 2010 data for Narvais 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 Narvais

The surname Narvais is believed to have originated in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Spain and Portugal, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Spanish word "narval," which means "narwhal," referring to the distinctive spiral tusk of the Arctic whale species.

One of the earliest known references to the Narvais surname can be found in the chronicles of the Reconquista, the long-lasting struggle between Christian kingdoms and the Moorish rulers of the Iberian Peninsula. In the 13th century, a knight named Pedro Narvais is mentioned for his bravery in the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, a decisive victory for the Christian forces against the Almohad Caliphate in 1212.

The Narvais surname later spread to other parts of Europe, particularly Portugal and its colonies. In the 16th century, João Narvais, a Portuguese explorer, is recorded as one of the early settlers in Brazil, establishing a small settlement in the region now known as Rio de Janeiro.

During the Renaissance period, the Narvais family gained prominence in the arts and literature. Juan Narvais, born in 1527 in Seville, Spain, was a renowned painter whose works adorned many churches and monasteries throughout Andalusia. His contemporary, Pedro Narvais, born in 1542 in Lisbon, Portugal, was a celebrated poet whose sonnets were widely acclaimed in literary circles of the time.

In the 18th century, the Narvais surname gained recognition in the field of science. José Narvais, born in 1701 in Madrid, Spain, was a pioneering botanist who made significant contributions to the study of the flora of the Americas. His extensive collection of plant specimens and detailed illustrations were instrumental in advancing the understanding of the diverse ecosystems of the New World.

Another notable figure with the Narvais surname was Maria Narvais, born in 1789 in Oporto, Portugal. She was a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights, establishing one of the first schools for girls in Portugal during a time when female education was relatively rare.

Throughout its long history, the surname Narvais has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, from military heroes and explorers to artists, poets, scientists, and social reformers. While its origins can be traced back to the medieval Iberian Peninsula, the Narvais name has left an indelible mark across cultures and continents, reflecting the rich tapestry of human experience.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Narvais

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

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

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

Reference this page

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!