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

Peru, 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 Peru surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peru in America

Peru is the 29019th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peru surname appeared 818 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 Peru.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peru 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 Peru

The surname PERU is believed to have originated from the country of Peru in South America, dating back to the 16th century when Spanish conquistadors arrived in the region. It is likely that some of the earliest bearers of this surname were either Spanish settlers or soldiers who had traveled to or spent time in the Inca Empire, which was known as Peru at the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PERU surname can be found in the archives of the Spanish Inquisition, where a Juan de Peru was documented as a witness in a trial held in Lima, Peru, in the year 1572. This suggests that the surname may have been adopted by Spaniards who had lived or been stationed in the region, and later brought it back with them to Europe.

The PERU surname is thought to have been derived from the Quechua word "Piruw," which means "land of abundance" or "fertile land," referring to the rich agricultural resources of the Inca Empire. It is also possible that the name may have been influenced by the Spanish word "peruano," meaning "Peruvian."

In the 17th century, the PERU surname began appearing in various European records, including parish registers and census documents in Spain, Portugal, and parts of Italy. One notable bearer of the name was Diego de Peru, a Spanish explorer and navigator who was born in Seville, Spain, in 1612 and is known for his expeditions to the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America.

Another prominent figure with the PERU surname was Juan de Peru y Muñiz, a Spanish soldier and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Panama from 1687 to 1692. He played a significant role in defending the region against pirate attacks and strengthening the colonial defenses.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the PERU surname continued to spread across Europe and the Americas, with some bearers of the name becoming notable figures in various fields. For example, Francisco de Peru was a renowned architect born in Havana, Cuba, in 1742, who designed several notable buildings in the city, including the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales.

In the realm of literature, Mariano de Peru was a Spanish poet and playwright born in Madrid in 1785, who gained recognition for his satirical works and contributions to the Neoclassical literary movement in Spain.

While the PERU surname may have originated from the South American country, it has since been adopted by individuals of various backgrounds and nationalities, reflecting the global reach and influence of the Spanish Empire during the colonial era.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peru

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

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

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

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