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

Neiva, 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 Neiva surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Neiva in America

Neiva is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Neiva surname appeared 107 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 Neiva.

The history of the last name Neiva

The surname Neiva originated in Spain, emerging in the 12th century. It stems from the Spanish town of Neiva, located in the province of Orense, Galicia. The place name Neiva is derived from the Latin word "Navis," meaning "ship," suggesting a connection to maritime activities or settlements near waterways.

Early records mention the surname Neiva in historical documents from the Kingdom of Galicia during the Middle Ages. One notable mention can be found in the Cartulario de Sobrado, a medieval cartulary from the Monastery of Sobrado dos Monxes, where the name appears in reference to landowners and local nobility.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Neiva was Pedro Fernández de Neiva, a Galician nobleman born around 1180. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Alfonso IX of León and served as a royal advisor and military commander during the Reconquista.

In the 14th century, Juan de Neiva, a wealthy merchant and shipowner from the town of Neiva, gained recognition for his successful trading ventures along the Atlantic coast. His descendants continued to play influential roles in the region's maritime commerce.

During the Age of Exploration, the surname Neiva gained further prominence. One notable figure was Álvaro de Neiva, a Portuguese navigator born in 1475, who accompanied Pedro Álvares Cabral on his historic voyage to Brazil in 1500. Álvaro de Neiva played a crucial role in charting the coastline and establishing early Portuguese settlements in the newfound lands.

In the realm of literature, Juan Antonio de Neiva, born in 1720, was a renowned Spanish poet and playwright from Galicia. His works, including the acclaimed "Églogas Pastoriles," were celebrated for their lyrical beauty and depiction of rural life in his homeland.

Another noteworthy individual was María de Neiva, a 17th-century Spanish nun and mystic. Born in 1602, she was known for her pious life, spiritual writings, and her advocacy for the poor and marginalized in her community.

The surname Neiva has been carried by individuals across various professions and walks of life throughout history, reflecting its enduring legacy and connection to the rich cultural heritage of Spain and Portugal.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Neiva

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

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 Neiva 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.

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

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

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