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

Neyra, 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 Neyra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Neyra in America

Neyra is the 27481st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Neyra surname appeared 877 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 Neyra.

We can also compare 2010 data for Neyra 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 Neyra

The surname Neyra is of Spanish origin, stemming from the region of Andalusia in southern Spain. It dates back to the late 15th century, during the time of the Catholic Monarchs' reign and the Reconquista.

Neyra is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "nayyir," meaning "bright" or "shining." This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have originated from Moorish settlers in the area, reflecting their cultural influence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Neyra surname can be found in the parish records of Seville, dated around 1492. It mentions a certain Juan de Neyra, who was a landowner and prominent figure in the local community.

The name gained further recognition in the 16th century when a renowned poet and playwright, Juan de Neyra y Carvajal (1570-1642), rose to prominence during the Spanish Golden Age of literature.

Another notable figure bearing the Neyra surname was Don Rodrigo de Neyra (1608-1679), a Spanish military officer who served under King Philip IV during the Thirty Years' War.

In the 18th century, the Neyra family established itself in the New World, with records indicating their presence in various Spanish colonies, such as Mexico and Peru. One member, Doña Ines de Neyra (1721-1798), was a prominent landowner and philanthropist in Lima, known for her charitable works.

Moving into the 19th century, the name appeared in historical documents related to the Spanish-American wars of independence. General Antonio de Neyra (1785-1842) was a military leader who fought for the Spanish Crown against the patriot forces in Venezuela.

As the centuries progressed, the Neyra surname spread across various regions of Spain, as well as to other Spanish-speaking countries through migration and exploration. It remains a relatively uncommon name, but with a rich historical legacy that spans multiple eras and continents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Neyra

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

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

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

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