Find out how popular the last name Teles is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Teles.
A Portuguese surname derived from the root word "tela" meaning loom, fabric or canvas.
Teles, 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 Teles surname is from the 2010 census data.
Teles is the 44034th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Teles surname appeared 489 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Teles.
We can also compare 2010 data for Teles 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.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 44034 | 70052 | -45.61% |
| Count | 489 | 261 | 60.80% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.17 | 0.10 | 51.85% |
The surname TELES originated in Portugal during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "teles," which means "soldier" or "warrior." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely soldiers or individuals involved in military service.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the TELES surname can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in historical documents from the northern region of Portugal. During this time, many surnames emerged from occupations or personal characteristics, reflecting the lifestyle and societal roles of individuals.
It is possible that the name TELES was initially adopted by individuals who distinguished themselves in battles or military campaigns. Alternatively, it may have been a descriptive surname given to someone who exhibited traits associated with a soldier, such as bravery, strength, or skill in combat.
In the 13th century, the TELES surname was documented in the Inquirições, a series of inquiries conducted by King Afonso III of Portugal to gather information about land ownership and feudal rights. This record provides valuable insights into the geographic distribution of the name during that era.
One notable individual bearing the TELES surname was João Teles, a Portuguese nobleman who lived in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. He served as the Master of the Order of Aviz and played a significant role in the political and military affairs of his time.
Another prominent figure was Martim Teles de Meneses, a 15th-century Portuguese nobleman and military commander. He was involved in the capture of Ceuta from the Moors in 1415, a pivotal event in Portuguese history.
In the 16th century, the TELES surname gained further recognition with Jorge Teles Cabral, a Portuguese explorer and navigator who participated in several expeditions to Brazil and the East Indies.
Moving forward to the 17th century, António Teles da Silva was a distinguished Portuguese diplomat and statesman who served as the ambassador to England and France during the reign of King João IV.
The TELES surname has also been associated with various place names in Portugal, such as Teles de Rio Frio, a parish in the municipality of Bragança, and Teles de Guimarães, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Real.
Throughout its history, the TELES surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including nobility, military personnel, explorers, diplomats, and statesmen. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval Portugal, its bearers have left their mark on various aspects of Portuguese history and beyond.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Teles.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Teles was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 52.56% | 257 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | 2.45% | 12 |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 1.64% | 8 |
| Hispanic Origin | 42.54% | 208 |
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 Teles has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 52.56% | 66.28% | -23.09% |
| Black | 2.45% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | 1.64% | 9.20% | -139.48% |
| Hispanic | 42.54% | 24.14% | 55.19% |
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 Teles was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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