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

Sequeira, 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 Sequeira surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sequeira in America

Sequeira is the 9006th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sequeira surname appeared 3,631 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 Sequeira.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sequeira 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 Sequeira

The surname Sequeira originates from Portugal, tracing its roots back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Portuguese word "sequeiro," which means a dry or arid place, likely referring to someone who lived in or came from a dry or parched region.

In the early days, the name was often spelled as "Siqueira" or "Siqueyra," reflecting the variations in orthography that were common during that time. These alternate spellings can be found in some of the earliest records mentioning individuals with this surname.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Sequeira can be found in the famous Livro Velho de Linhagens, a collection of genealogical records compiled in the 13th century. It mentions several individuals bearing this surname, indicating its presence in Portugal during that era.

Over the centuries, the Sequeira family branched out and established themselves in various regions of Portugal, with some members achieving notable positions in society. For instance, João Rodrigues Sequeira (1500-1580) was a prominent Portuguese explorer and navigator who led expeditions to India and Southeast Asia.

Another notable figure was Domingos Antonio de Sequeira (1768-1837), a Portuguese painter and sculptor who gained recognition for his neoclassical works. His paintings and sculptures can be found in various museums and galleries across Portugal.

In the literary realm, Joaquim Pedro de Sequeira (1814-1885) was a renowned Portuguese poet and writer, known for his contributions to the Romantic movement in Portuguese literature.

Beyond Portugal, the Sequeira surname also found its way to other parts of the world, particularly to former Portuguese colonies. For example, Francisco Rodrigues da Cunha Sequeira (1673-1737) was a Portuguese military officer who served as the Governor of Macau, a former Portuguese colony in China.

Another notable figure was José da Sequeira Samuda (1810-1896), a Portuguese-born British engineer and shipbuilder who played a significant role in the development of iron shipbuilding in the United Kingdom.

These examples illustrate the historical presence and significance of the Sequeira surname, which has its roots firmly planted in the rich cultural tapestry of Portugal, while also finding its place in various corners of the world through exploration, migration, and notable achievements of individuals bearing this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sequeira

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

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

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

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