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

Virrey, 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 Virrey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Virrey in America

Virrey is the 59742nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Virrey surname appeared 338 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 Virrey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Virrey 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 Virrey

The surname VIRREY is of Spanish origin and dates back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Spanish word "virrey," which means "viceroy" or "governor." The name likely originated in Spain during the time of the Spanish Empire, when viceroys were appointed to govern the various territories and colonies under Spanish rule.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname VIRREY can be found in historical documents and records related to Spanish colonial administration. For example, the name appears in official correspondences and reports from viceroys to the Spanish monarchs, as well as in colonial archives and manuscripts from the 16th and 17th centuries.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname VIRREY was Juan de Virrey, a Spanish colonial official who served as the interim viceroy of New Spain (present-day Mexico) in the late 16th century. Another notable figure was Diego de Virrey, a Spanish military officer and administrator who served as the viceroy of Peru in the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, the surname VIRREY gained prominence with the rise of José de Virrey y Escalada, a prominent Spanish military leader and governor of Havana, Cuba. He played a crucial role in defending the city against British forces during the Seven Years' War.

Another historical figure with the surname VIRREY was Andrés de Virrey y Caballero, a Spanish naval officer and explorer who led several expeditions to the Pacific Northwest in the late 18th century. His voyages contributed to the mapping and exploration of the coastline of what is now British Columbia and Alaska.

During the 19th century, the surname VIRREY remained associated with Spanish colonial administration and governance. Notable individuals included Manuel de Virrey y García, a Spanish politician and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Puerto Rico in the mid-19th century.

Throughout its history, the surname VIRREY has been linked to the Spanish colonial experience and the role of viceroys in governing the vast territories of the Spanish Empire. While the name may have evolved or taken on variations over time, its origins and meaning remain rooted in the historical significance of the viceroy position in Spanish colonial administration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Virrey

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

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

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

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