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

Xuereb, 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 Xuereb surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Xuereb in America

Xuereb is the 78040th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Xuereb surname appeared 245 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 Xuereb.

We can also compare 2010 data for Xuereb 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 Xuereb

The surname Xuereb has its origins in Malta, a small island nation in the Mediterranean Sea. Malta has a rich history of cross-cultural influences, and its surnames reflect this diverse heritage. Xuereb is an evocative surname that carries a mix of influences from the Italian, Arabic, and possibly even Norman languages, reflecting the complex history of Malta which was a melting pot for various civilizations over time.

One of the earliest references to the name Xuereb can be traced back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have originated from the Sicilian or Italian derivation of the Arabic word 'shurayb,' which means "a little drink" or could also imply "a small canal” or “a small river.” Given Malta's history of Arab rule, it is plausible that the surname has Arabic roots before being adapted and integrated into Maltese culture and lexicon.

Historical manuscripts and records such as church registries from the 16th and 17th centuries contain references to the surname Xuereb. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Mario Xuereb, born in 1575 in Mdina, Malta, then the island's capital. His family were local merchants, indicating that the name had some standing in the community.

Another notable person is Giovanni Xuereb, a painter born in 1643 and died in 1702, who contributed significantly to the Baroque art movement in Malta. His works decorated many of the island’s grand churches and public buildings, establishing the family name within the annals of Maltese art history.

In the 18th century, a figure bearing the surname Xuereb, Alexandro Xuereb, born in 1739 and died in 1791, is noted to have been an influential figure in Maltese politics. He served in local government and was known for his strong advocacy of Maltese autonomy during the waning years of the Knights Hospitaller's rule.

Moving to the 19th century, Emilio Xuereb, an academic born in 1821 and died in 1892, made significant contributions to the study of Maltese philology and history. His extensive works on the Maltese language and culture were pioneering at the time, further cementing the surname as one associated with intellectual and cultural prominence.

Lastly, the name is carried into the modern era by figures such as Francesca Xuereb, a prominent Maltese writer born in 1903 and died in 1977. Her novels often reflected the social and cultural shifts occurring in Malta during the early 20th century and brought widespread recognition to Maltese literature.

The surname Xuereb, therefore, is a deeply rooted Maltese name with a multifaceted history, intertwined with the island's cultural, political, and artistic development. The surname's bearers have played significant roles in shaping Maltese identity through centuries, ensuring that the name is well-remembered within the rich tapestry of Malta's history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Xuereb

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!