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

Serra, 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 Serra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Serra in America

Serra is the 5674th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Serra surname appeared 6,114 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 Serra.

We can also compare 2010 data for Serra 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 Serra

The surname SERRA has its origins in Catalonia, Spain, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Catalan word "serra," meaning "mountain range" or "saw." This suggests that the name likely originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a mountain range or worked with saws.

In the 13th century, the name SERRA appeared in historical records of Catalonia, such as the "Llibre dels Fets" (Book of Deeds) written by King James I of Aragon. This manuscript mentioned individuals with the surname SERRA, indicating their presence in the region during that time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SERRA can be found in the 14th century, with Bernat SERRA, a renowned Catalan painter who lived from approximately 1330 to 1385. His works adorned churches and monasteries in Barcelona and other parts of Catalonia.

The SERRA surname also has a connection to the Italian region of Liguria, where it is believed to have originated from the Ligurian word "sèrra," meaning "ridge" or "mountain crest." This suggests that the name may have been adopted by Catalan families who migrated from Liguria or had ties to the region.

In the 16th century, the explorer and missionary Junípero SERRA (1713-1784) gained prominence. Born in Mallorca, Spain, he established missions along the coast of California, including the Mission San Diego de Alcalá and the Mission San Francisco de Asís (commonly known as Mission Dolores). His work played a significant role in the Spanish colonization of California.

Another notable figure with the SERRA surname was Francesc SERRA I Mestres (1871-1960), a Catalan architect and urban planner. He designed numerous buildings in Barcelona, including the famous Palau de la Música Catalana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Other historical figures bearing the SERRA surname include Miguel SERRA (1713-1805), a Spanish Franciscan friar and missionary who established missions in California; Jaume SERRA Hunter (1716-1784), a Catalan painter known for his religious works; and Antoni SERRA Parnés (1856-1930), a prominent Catalan banker and philanthropist.

Overall, the surname SERRA has deep roots in Catalan and Ligurian culture, with its origins dating back to medieval times. It has been associated with various professions, from artists and architects to explorers and missionaries, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this name throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Serra

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!