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

Serpa, 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 Serpa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Serpa in America

Serpa is the 12221st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Serpa surname appeared 2,547 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 Serpa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Serpa 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 Serpa

The surname Serpa has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Portugal. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Portuguese word "serra," which means "mountain range" or "saw," referring to the rugged, mountainous terrain of the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Serpa can be found in the "Livro Velho de Linhagens" (Old Book of Lineages), a Portuguese genealogical record from the 14th century. This document mentions individuals with the surname Serpa, indicating their presence in Portugal during that time.

The name Serpa is also associated with the town of the same name in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal. The town of Serpa dates back to the Roman era and was known as "Serpensis" during that period. It is possible that the surname originated from this place name or was influenced by it.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname Serpa. One of the earliest recorded figures was João Serpa, a Portuguese explorer who participated in the exploration of the coast of West Africa in the 15th century. He was part of the expeditions led by the renowned Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão.

Another notable figure was Baltasar Serpa Pinto, a Portuguese explorer and military officer born in 1837. He is renowned for his expeditions across southern Africa, including his crossing of the continent from Angola to Mozambique in the late 19th century.

In the realm of literature, the Portuguese author and poet António Serpa, born in 1925, is a prominent figure. His works have received critical acclaim and have contributed significantly to the literary landscape of Portugal.

Moving to the realm of sports, the Brazilian footballer Edmundo Serpa, born in 1956, had a successful career playing for various clubs in Brazil and Portugal. He was part of the Brazilian national team that competed in the 1978 FIFA World Cup.

Lastly, Antônio Joaquim de Serpa, born in 1818 in Brazil, was a notable military figure and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Empire of Brazil and played a significant role in the political landscape of the country during the 19th century.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Serpa throughout history, highlighting its Portuguese roots and its presence in various fields and regions over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Serpa

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

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

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

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