Riera
A Spanish and Catalan surname derived from the term for a small stream or creek.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,851 Americans carry the last name Riera. That puts it at #17,541 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.54 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 185,173 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Riera surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.9K
1 in 185,173
Census rank
#17,541
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,604 bearers of the surname Riera in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.54 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 17541st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Riera, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 79.5%. The next largest groups are White (18.8%) and Black (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Riera
The surname RIERA originates from Catalonia, a region of Spain, and likely dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Catalan word "riera," which means a small stream or brook, suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a stream or rivulet.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the RIERA surname can be found in the "Llibre del Repartiment de València" (Book of the Distribution of Valencia), a manuscript dating back to the 13th century. This document was created after the Reconquista of Valencia from the Moors and recorded the distribution of lands and properties among the Christian conquerors.
The RIERA surname has also been associated with various place names in Catalonia, such as Riera de Vallfogona and Riera de Gaià, indicating that some individuals may have taken the name based on their place of origin or residence.
Notable individuals with the RIERA surname include:
1. Miquel Riera (1583-1642), a Catalan painter known for his religious works and considered one of the leading figures of the Baroque period in Catalonia.
2. Josep Riera i Bertran (1854-1924), a Catalan architect who designed several notable buildings in Barcelona, including the Palau de la Música Catalana.
3. Carme Riera (born 1948), a contemporary Catalan writer and academic, known for her novels and short stories exploring themes of gender, identity, and marginalization.
4. Gabriel Riera (1909-1997), a Spanish footballer who played as a forward and represented Spain at the 1934 FIFA World Cup.
5. Joaquim Riera i Bertran (1848-1924), a Catalan architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the modernization and expansion of Barcelona in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Throughout history, the RIERA surname has been associated with various professions, including artists, architects, writers, and athletes, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have carried this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Riera
Among Census respondents with the surname Riera, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 79.5%. The next largest groups are White (18.8%) and Black (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Riera bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Riera surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino79.5%
- White18.8%
- Black or African American1.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
- Unknown or suppressed0.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Riera surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,098 | #17,541 | 20.6% |
| Count | 1,092 | 1,604 | 46.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.40 | 0.54 | 35.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Riera bearers went from 1,092 to 1,604 (+46.9% change). The surname moved up 4,557 positions in the national ranking, going from #22,098 to #17,541.
FAQ
Riera surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Riera?
The surname Riera holds position #17,541 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,851 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.54 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Riera surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Riera, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 79.5%. The next largest groups are White (18.8%) and Black (1.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.