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

Parra, 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 Parra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Parra in America

Parra is the 943rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Parra surname appeared 36,765 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 12 people would have the surname Parra.

We can also compare 2010 data for Parra 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 Parra

The surname Parra is of Spanish and Italian origin, derived from the Latin word "parra," which means "vine" or "grapevine." It is believed to have originated in the regions of Spain and Italy where grape cultivation and winemaking were prevalent.

In Spain, the earliest recorded instances of the surname Parra can be traced back to the 12th century. It is possible that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to individuals who worked with or lived near vineyards. One notable early bearer of the name was Pedro Parra, a Spanish nobleman and landowner who lived in the 13th century.

The surname Parra also has a long history in Italy, where it is believed to have originated in regions such as Tuscany and Piedmont, known for their wine production. Records from the 14th century mention individuals with the surname Parra in these areas.

Historically, the surname Parra has been associated with various professions and occupations related to viniculture, such as winemakers, vineyard owners, and grape growers. In some cases, the name may have also been given to individuals who lived near vineyards or had a physical resemblance to grapevines.

Notable individuals with the surname Parra include:

1. José Parra del Riego (1564-1638), a Spanish historian and writer from Seville.
2. Juan Bautista Parra (1720-1798), a Spanish botanist and explorer who studied flora in Colombia and Venezuela.
3. Francisco Parra (1856-1924), a Chilean politician and diplomat who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
4. Nicanor Parra (1914-2018), a renowned Chilean poet, mathematician, and physicist, considered one of the founders of anti-poetry.
5. Violeta Parra (1917-1967), a celebrated Chilean composer, singer, and visual artist, known for her contributions to the Nueva Canción movement.

The surname Parra has also been associated with various place names, particularly in Spain and Latin America, such as Parra de Arribe and Parra de Abajo in Spain, and Parra de Las Vegas in Venezuela.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Parra

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

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

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

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