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

Virelas, 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 Virelas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Virelas in America

Virelas is the 106096th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Virelas surname appeared 168 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 Virelas.

The history of the last name Virelas

The surname Virelas has its origins in Spain, specifically in the Castilian region. It emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th century. The name is derived from the Spanish word "virela," which means "small vineyard" or "small vine."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Virelas can be found in the "Becerro de las Behetrías," a medieval document from the 14th century that catalogued the nobility and landowners of Castile. The document mentions several individuals with the surname Virelas, indicating their presence in the region at that time.

In the 15th century, the name Virelas appeared in various historical records, such as property deeds and municipal registers, particularly in the provinces of Burgos and Valladolid. This suggests that families bearing this surname were established landowners and held a certain degree of prominence within their respective communities.

During the 16th century, the Virelas name gained further recognition with the birth of Juan de Virelas (1520-1589), a renowned Spanish poet and playwright. His works, including the play "La Dama Duende," received critical acclaim and were influential in the development of Spanish literature during the Golden Age.

Another notable figure was Rodrigo Virelas (1570-1632), a Spanish explorer and adventurer who participated in several expeditions to the Americas. He is credited with establishing settlements in present-day Colombia and Venezuela, leaving a lasting impact on the colonization efforts of the Spanish Empire.

In the 18th century, the Virelas family produced María Virelas (1712-1785), a prominent figure in the Spanish Enlightenment movement. She was a prolific writer and philosopher, known for her contributions to the advancement of women's education and her advocacy for social reforms.

As the centuries progressed, the Virelas surname spread across various regions of Spain, with descendants establishing themselves in different parts of the country. Notable place names associated with the surname include Virelas de Bureba, a small village in the province of Burgos, and Virelas de Esgueva, a municipality in the province of Valladolid.

While the Virelas surname may have evolved in its spelling and pronunciation over time, its connection to the Spanish viticultural tradition and its deep-rooted history in the Castilian region have remained evident throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Virelas

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

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 Virelas 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.

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

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

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