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

Riojas, 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 Riojas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Riojas in America

Riojas is the 6030th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Riojas surname appeared 5,699 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 Riojas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Riojas 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 Riojas

The surname RIOJAS is of Spanish origin, with roots dating back to the 14th century in the Rioja region of northern Spain. It is believed to be a toponymic name, derived from the plural form of the word "rioja," which refers to the vineyards and wine-growing areas along the Ebro River.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RIOJAS can be found in the medieval census records of the Kingdom of Castile, where a family with this surname was listed as residing in the town of Haro, a prominent winemaking center in the Rioja region. The name's association with viticulture and wine production likely contributed to its spread throughout the area.

In the 16th century, the RIOJAS surname gained prominence when Juan de Riojas, a celebrated poet and dramatist from the village of Ezcaray, rose to fame during the Spanish Golden Age. His works, which include plays and religious poetry, earned him recognition among the literary elite of his time.

Another notable figure in history bearing the RIOJAS name was Pedro de Riojas, a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to the Americas in the early 16th century. Pedro de Riojas is believed to have played a significant role in the conquest of Mexico and the establishment of Spanish settlements in the region.

In the 18th century, the RIOJAS surname made its mark in the field of art with the renowned painter José de Riojas y Rivas, who was born in the city of Logroño in 1705. His paintings, which often depicted religious and mythological scenes, can be found in various churches and museums throughout Spain.

The 19th century saw the rise of Mariano de Riojas, a Spanish military officer and politician who served as the Governor of Puerto Rico from 1847 to 1849. His tenure was marked by his efforts to modernize the island's infrastructure and promote economic development.

As the RIOJAS surname spread beyond its origins in northern Spain, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Rioja, Rioxa, and Riohas, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic influences encountered in different parts of the Spanish-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Riojas

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

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

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

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