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

Raposo, 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 Raposo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raposo in America

Raposo is the 11179th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raposo surname appeared 2,829 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 Raposo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raposo 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 Raposo

The surname Raposo has its origins in Portugal, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Portuguese word "raposo," which means "fox." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname or a reference to an individual's physical appearance or personality traits associated with a fox, such as cunning or slyness.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Raposo surname can be found in the medieval Portuguese records from the 13th and 14th centuries. These records often list individuals by their first name followed by their surname or a descriptive nickname. The Raposo surname was likely used to distinguish individuals with this particular characteristic or connection to foxes.

Over the centuries, the Raposo surname has been documented in various historical records and manuscripts across Portugal. For example, in the 15th century, a nobleman named João Raposo was mentioned in chronicles as a military commander who participated in the Portuguese conquest of Ceuta in 1415. Another notable figure was Pedro Raposo, a Portuguese explorer and navigator who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India in 1497-1499.

In the 16th century, a prominent individual bearing the Raposo surname was Fernão Raposo, a Portuguese poet and writer who was born in Lisbon around 1500. His works include poetry collections and plays that reflect the cultural and literary trends of the Renaissance era in Portugal.

Fast forward to the 18th century, Manuel Raposo was a renowned Portuguese architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Lisbon, including the Church of Santa Engrácia, which is now part of the National Pantheon.

Another noteworthy figure was Joaquim Raposo Botelho, a military officer and statesman who served as the Governor-General of Portuguese India from 1786 to 1790. He played a significant role in strengthening Portuguese rule in the region during a turbulent period.

Throughout its history, the Raposo surname has been associated with various place names and regions within Portugal. Some examples include the towns of Raposo, located in the municipalities of Boticas and Vila Real, where the surname is believed to have originated or been particularly prevalent.

While the Raposo surname is primarily associated with Portugal, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and Portuguese exploration and colonization efforts. Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the name may have evolved slightly in different regions, but its origins can be traced back to the Portuguese word "raposo" and its historical significance within the country's cultural and linguistic heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raposo

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

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

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

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