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

Peral, 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 Peral surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peral in America

Peral is the 39004th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peral surname appeared 565 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 Peral.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peral 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 Peral

The surname PERAL is believed to have its origins in Spain, with records indicating its presence as early as the 15th century. It is thought to be derived from the Spanish word "perla," meaning "pearl," which itself traces its roots to the Latin word "perna," referring to a type of mollusk.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PERAL surname can be found in the census records of Seville, Spain, from the year 1492. This document lists several families with the surname, suggesting that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

In the 16th century, the PERAL name appears in various historical documents, including land deeds and parish records, primarily in the regions of Andalusia and Castile. It is possible that the name may have been associated with individuals involved in the pearl trade or those who worked with pearls in some capacity.

One notable historical figure bearing the PERAL name was Diego Peral, a Spanish explorer who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his third voyage to the Americas in 1498. Peral played a role in the establishment of the first European settlement on the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic).

In the 17th century, the PERAL surname gained prominence in the city of Seville, where several members of the family were involved in various trades and professions. Juan Peral (1620-1692) was a renowned silversmith whose works can still be found in museums and private collections.

As the Spanish Empire expanded its reach across the globe, the PERAL surname traveled with it. In the 18th century, Pedro Peral (1745-1819) was a Spanish military officer who served in the colonies of Mexico and Cuba, participating in various campaigns against indigenous resistance.

During the 19th century, the PERAL name continued to be found throughout Spain, as well as in Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas. One notable figure was Isacc Peral (1851-1895), a Spanish naval officer and inventor who designed and built the first practical submarine for the Spanish Navy.

As the centuries progressed, the PERAL surname spread to other parts of Europe and the Americas, with descendants of the original Spanish families establishing themselves in various countries and contributing to diverse fields and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peral

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

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

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

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