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

Ourique, 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 Ourique surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ourique in America

Ourique is the 135593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ourique surname appeared 124 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 Ourique.

The history of the last name Ourique

The surname Ourique has its origins in Portugal, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the town of Ourique, located in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal. The town's name itself is thought to be of Arabic origin, possibly stemming from the words "Awr-Rik" or "Awrick," which may refer to a rocky or stony area.

One of the earliest known references to the name Ourique can be found in the historical account of the Battle of Ourique, fought in 1139 between the forces of Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, and the Moors. This battle was a significant victory for the Portuguese and is considered a pivotal moment in the establishment of the Kingdom of Portugal.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named João Ourique was recorded as serving as a knight in the court of King Fernando I of Portugal. Records from this time also mention a Pedro Ourique, who held land in the region of Ourique.

During the 15th century, the surname appeared in various documents from the Algarve region of southern Portugal. One notable individual from this era was Álvaro Ourique, a merchant and ship owner who played a role in the early Portuguese explorations along the African coast.

In the 16th century, the Ourique surname gained prominence in the Portuguese colonies, particularly in Brazil. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name in Brazil was Diogo Ourique, a settler who arrived in the region of Pernambuco in the late 1500s.

Other notable figures throughout history with the surname Ourique include:

1. Fernão Ourique (c. 1490-1560), a Portuguese explorer and navigator who participated in various expeditions along the coast of Africa and India.
2. Mariana Ourique (1628-1698), a Portuguese nun and religious writer known for her works on spiritual devotion.
3. António Ourique (1782-1848), a Brazilian politician and landowner who played a role in the independence movement of Brazil from Portugal.
4. José Ourique (1853-1927), a Portuguese architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Lisbon and Porto.
5. Maria Ourique (1906-1989), a Brazilian poet and novelist whose works explored themes of feminism and social inequality.

While the surname Ourique is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of the rich cultural heritage of Portugal and its former colonies, serving as a reminder of the country's historical ties to the Alentejo region and the pivotal events that shaped its national identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ourique

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

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

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

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