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

Varelas, 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 Varelas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Varelas in America

Varelas is the 32203rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Varelas surname appeared 716 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 Varelas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Varelas 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 Varelas

The surname Varelas originated in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Portugal and Spain, during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "vallum," meaning a rampart or fortification, which later transformed into the Spanish word "valle" (valley) and the Portuguese word "vale" (valley).

One of the earliest known references to the name Varelas can be found in the records of the Portuguese town of Avis, where a certain Afonso Varelas was mentioned in a document dated 1292. This document was related to a land dispute between the local nobility and the Knights Templar.

In Spain, the name Varelas was particularly prevalent in the regions of Galicia and Asturias, where it was often associated with rural areas and small villages located in valleys or near fortified structures. One notable example is the village of Varelas, located in the municipality of Navia de Suarna, Asturias.

During the 15th century, a prominent figure bearing the surname Varelas was João Varelas, a Portuguese navigator and explorer who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India in 1497-1499. Varelas played a crucial role in charting the route and mapping the coastlines along the way.

Another notable individual with the surname Varelas was Diego Varelas, a Spanish soldier and conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés in the early 16th century. Varelas was known for his bravery and military prowess during the battles against the Aztec Empire.

In the 17th century, a prominent Portuguese playwright and poet named Tomé Varelas gained recognition for his works, which often explored themes of love, honor, and social commentary. His plays were widely performed in Lisbon and other major cities during his lifetime (1595-1665).

During the 18th century, a Spanish architect named Manuel Varelas made significant contributions to the design and construction of several notable buildings in Madrid, including the Palacio Real de Madrid (Royal Palace of Madrid) and the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales (Monastery of the Discalced Royals).

In the 19th century, a Brazilian politician and lawyer named Antônio Varelas played a pivotal role in the country's independence movement, advocating for the separation of Brazil from Portugal. He served as a member of the Constituent Assembly and later became a senator in the newly formed Brazilian Empire.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Varelas

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

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

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

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