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

Viruel, 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 Viruel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Viruel in America

Viruel is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Viruel surname appeared 102 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 Viruel.

The history of the last name Viruel

The surname Viruel has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in Spain and Portugal, where it first emerged in the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "viridis," meaning "green," suggesting a possible connection to a place name or a descriptive term for someone who lived near a verdant area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Viruel surname can be traced back to the 13th century in the Kingdom of Aragon, where a certain Pedro Viruel was mentioned in historical documents from 1274. This region, situated in northeastern Spain, was known for its fertile lands and lush vegetation, potentially contributing to the origin of the name.

During the 14th century, the Viruel name appeared in several administrative records and legal transactions in the Kingdom of Valencia. Notably, a Juan Viruel was registered as a landowner in the region in 1342, indicating the surname's presence among the local nobility and landholding classes.

As the centuries progressed, the Viruel surname spread across the Iberian Peninsula and eventually found its way into the Americas during the colonial era. One prominent figure bearing this name was Diego Viruel, a Spanish explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in the early 16th century.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Viruel family settled in the Viceroyalty of Peru, where they established themselves as influential landowners and merchants. María Viruel, born in 1653, was a renowned philanthropist who funded the construction of several churches and hospitals in the city of Arequipa.

Another notable individual with the Viruel surname was José Viruel y Pascual, a Spanish military officer who fought against the Napoleonic forces during the Peninsular War in the early 19th century. His bravery and leadership earned him numerous accolades and promotions within the Spanish army.

Throughout the centuries, the Viruel surname has undergone various spellings and variations, such as Viruelle, Viruelli, and Viruel y López, reflecting the geographical and linguistic diversity of the regions where it was present. However, the core meaning and heritage of this intriguing surname remain deeply rooted in the Iberian Peninsula's rich history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Viruel

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

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

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

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