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

Pavão, 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 Pavão surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pavão in America

Pavão is the 15589th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pavão surname appeared 1,876 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Pavão.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pavão 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 Pavão

The surname PAVAO is of Portuguese origin, tracing its roots back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Portuguese word "pavão," meaning "peacock," indicating that the name may have been initially given as a nickname or distinguishing characteristic to someone who bore a resemblance to the bird or shared some of its traits.

The earliest recorded instances of the PAVAO surname can be found in historical records from the Algarve region of southern Portugal. It is believed that the name first emerged in the coastal towns and villages of this area, where the peacock was a familiar sight and held cultural significance.

One of the earliest documented references to the PAVAO surname dates back to the late 16th century, when a certain Pedro Pavao was listed as a resident of Lagos, a historic city in the Algarve. This record provides evidence of the name's longstanding presence in the region.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals bearing the PAVAO surname have left their mark on history. João Pavao (1635-1703) was a renowned Portuguese architect who played a pivotal role in the reconstruction efforts after the devastating 1755 Lisbon earthquake. His contributions to the city's architectural landscape can still be seen today.

Another prominent figure was Maria Pavao (1770-1842), a celebrated Portuguese poet and writer whose works were widely acclaimed during the Romantic period. Her collection of poems, "Canções do Coração" (Songs of the Heart), is considered a literary masterpiece of her time.

In the 18th century, the PAVAO surname also found its way to Brazil, likely carried by Portuguese settlers and immigrants. One of the earliest recorded instances in Brazil is that of Francisco Pavao (1765-1836), a successful plantation owner and influential figure in the colonial society of Pernambuco.

As the Portuguese empire expanded, the PAVAO surname spread to various parts of the world, including Africa and Asia. In Mozambique, for instance, there are records of a Manuel Pavao (1820-1892) who served as a colonial administrator and played a significant role in the development of the region during the late 19th century.

While the PAVAO surname may not be as prevalent as some other Portuguese surnames, it continues to carry a rich historical legacy, tracing its origins back to the coastal towns of the Algarve and the cultural significance of the peacock in Portuguese tradition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pavão

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

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

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

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