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

Raya, 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 Raya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raya in America

Raya is the 4894th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raya surname appeared 7,198 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Raya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raya 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 Raya

The surname Raya is of Spanish origin, deriving from the Latin word "raia," meaning a boundary line or border. This name first emerged in the medieval period, particularly in the regions of Castile and Aragon, where it was closely associated with those who lived near territorial borders or worked as boundary guards.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Raya surname can be found in the 13th-century Libro de la Montería, which documented the hunting exploits of King Alfonso XI of Castile. This text mentions a certain Pedro Raya, who likely served as a boundary guard or lived near a territorial line.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Raya surname gained prominence in various parts of Spain, including Andalusia and Extremadura. It is believed that the name may have evolved from the place name "Raya," a village located in the province of Seville, which itself derived from the Latin word "raia."

One notable bearer of the Raya surname was Juan de Raya, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century. Juan de Raya played a crucial role in mapping the coastlines and charting the routes that facilitated the Spanish exploration and colonization of the Americas.

Another prominent figure was Andrés de Raya, a 16th-century Spanish architect and military engineer. He is renowned for his contributions to the construction of several fortifications and defensive structures across Spain, including the famous Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, Florida, which he helped design.

In the 17th century, the Raya surname gained recognition through the works of Juan Raya, a Spanish priest and theologian. His writings on religious doctrine and philosophy were widely circulated and influential during that time.

Moving into the 18th century, Manuel de Raya y Navarrete, a Spanish naval officer and cartographer, made significant contributions to the mapping of the Pacific Ocean and the exploration of the western coast of North America.

Throughout history, the Raya surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, politicians, and military personnel. While its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in Spain, the name has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raya

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

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

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

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