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

Navia, 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 Navia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Navia in America

Navia is the 28525th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Navia surname appeared 836 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 Navia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Navia 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 Navia

The surname Navia has its origins in Spain, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Asturian and Galician regions, where it may have been derived from the Latin word "navis," meaning "ship" or "boat." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals involved in maritime activities or living in coastal areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Navia can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Asturiensis, a collection of medieval documents from the Kingdom of Asturias, dated around the 9th century. Several references to individuals with the surname Navia are found in these records, indicating the name's presence in the region during that time.

In the 11th century, the Navia surname appeared in the Cartulario de Covarrubias, a medieval cartulary from the monastery of Covarrubias in the province of Burgos. This document contains records of land transactions and legal agreements involving individuals bearing the Navia name, further solidifying its presence in various parts of northern Spain.

The name Navia has also been linked to various place names across Spain, such as Navia de Suarna, a municipality in the province of Lugo, and Navia, a municipality in the Principality of Asturias. These place names may have influenced the surname's development or vice versa, as it was common for individuals to adopt surnames derived from their places of origin or residence.

One notable figure bearing the Navia surname was Pedro Fernández de Navia, a Spanish military commander who lived in the late 15th century. He played a significant role in the conquest of the Canary Islands and was appointed as the first governor of Gran Canaria in 1483.

Another prominent individual was Diego de Navia Osorio, a Spanish nobleman and military leader who lived in the 16th century. He served as the governor of Galicia and played a crucial role in the Spanish conquest of Portugal during the Iberian Union.

In the realm of literature, Juan de Navia y Castilla, a Spanish poet and playwright from the 17th century, left a notable legacy. He was born in Seville in 1602 and authored several works, including plays and poetic compositions.

Pedro de Navia, a Spanish explorer and navigator, also made significant contributions during the 16th century. He participated in several expeditions to the Pacific Ocean and is credited with discovering several islands, including the Navia Islands, now known as the Marquesas Islands.

Lastly, Juan de Navia Castillo, a Spanish soldier and colonial administrator, played a prominent role in the conquest and colonization of the Americas in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as the governor of Puerto Rico and was instrumental in establishing Spanish rule in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Navia

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

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

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

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