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

Viray, 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 Viray surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Viray in America

Viray is the 13627th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Viray surname appeared 2,222 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 Viray.

We can also compare 2010 data for Viray 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 Viray

The surname Viray is believed to have originated in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period. The name is likely derived from the Spanish word "virrey," which means "viceroy" or a representative of the Spanish monarch. This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who held important administrative or governmental positions under the Spanish rule.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Viray can be found in the Philippines' national archives, which contain documents dating back to the 16th century. These records often mention individuals with the name Viray, indicating that the name has been in use for several centuries.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure named Andres Viray (1630-1695) was a renowned poet and playwright in the Philippines. His works were widely acclaimed and contributed significantly to the development of Philippine literature during the Spanish colonial era.

Another notable individual with the surname Viray was Juan Viray (1725-1798), a renowned artist and sculptor who created many religious artworks and statues that adorned churches and cathedrals throughout the Philippines during the 18th century.

During the 19th century, the name Viray gained further prominence with the birth of Manuel Viray (1820-1892), a respected educator and author who wrote several textbooks and educational materials that were widely used in schools across the Philippines.

In the early 20th century, a prominent figure named Mariano Viray (1895-1968) played a significant role in the Philippine independence movement. He was a lawyer, politician, and activist who advocated for the Philippines' separation from the United States and the establishment of an independent nation.

The name Viray has also been associated with various place names in the Philippines, such as Barangay Viray, a small village located in the province of Laguna. This suggests that the name may have been derived from a specific geographic location or settlement.

While the surname Viray has its roots in the Philippines, it has since been adopted by individuals of different nationalities and backgrounds, reflecting the global spread and diversity of the name's origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Viray

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

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

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

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