Explore the Family Name Amaral
The meaning of Amaral
Portuguese: habitational name from any of numerous minor places called Amaral. The placename is probably from the term amaral (from Latin amarus ‘bitter’), denoting a kind of black grape. Alternatively, the origin may be a collective noun derived from Spanish maro, amaro ‘cat-thyme’ (from Latin marum, influenced by Spanish amargo ‘bitter’). Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Manuel, Jose, Carlos, Mario, Armando, Fernando, Luis, Jorge, Eduardo, Francisco, Ernesto, Joaquin. Portuguese Joao, Joaquim, Paulo, Guilherme, Serafim, Vasco.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Amaral in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Amaral has shown considerable growth in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Amaral was ranked 3833rd most popular surname and increased to the 3709th position by 2010, reflecting a 3.24% increase in rank. The count of individuals with this surname also increased during this period, growing from 8510 in 2000 to 9567 in 2010, which corresponds to a 12.42% increase. This increase is also evident when looking at the proportion per 100,000 people, which rose from 3.15 in 2000 to 3.24 in 2010, a 2.86% increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,833 | #3,709 | 3.24% |
| Count | 8,510 | 9,567 | 12.42% |
| Proportion per 100k | 3.15 | 3.24 | 2.86% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Amaral
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the surname Amaral, data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals some shifts between 2000 and 2010. While the majority of individuals with this surname identified as White (79.40% in 2000 to 78.13% in 2010), there was a notable increase in those identifying as Hispanic, rising from 13.75% to 16.68%. There was also a significant jump in those associating with Black ethnicity, though the overall numbers remain small (0.24% to 0.78%). Conversely, the proportion of individuals identifying as having two or more races decreased significantly from 4.82% to 2.59%, while the percentage of Asian/Pacific Islanders grew slightly from 1.49% to 1.59%. Those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native saw a decrease from 0.31% to 0.22%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 79.4% | 78.13% | -1.6% |
| Hispanic | 13.75% | 16.68% | 21.31% |
| Two or More Races | 4.82% | 2.59% | -46.27% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.49% | 1.59% | 6.71% |
| Black | 0.24% | 0.78% | 225% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.31% | 0.22% | -29.03% |
Amaral ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Amaral is Spanish & Portuguese, which comprises 57.4% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (14.9%) and French & German (9.1%). Additional ancestries include Indigenous American, Italian, Eastern European, Scandinavian, and Ashkenazi Jewish.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Spanish & Portuguese | 57.4% |
| British & Irish | 14.9% |
| French & German | 9.1% |
| Other | 18.6% |
Possible origins of the surname Amaral
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Amaral have recent ancestry locations in Portugal and United Kingdom.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Azores, Portugal | 67.80% |
| Madeira, Portugal | 67.80% |
| Aveiro District, Portugal | 65.10% |
| Lisbon, Portugal | 65.10% |
| Coimbra District, Portugal | 63.20% |
What Amaral haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Amaral is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include J-L26 and R-Z225, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Medeiros, Nascimento, Nunes, Abreu, Alves, Tavares, Mendes, Ribeiro, Soares, Azevedo.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Amaral surname are: H1, J1c, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Amaral have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Amaral" Surname 43.8%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Amaral" Surname 38.1%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Amaral" Surname 18.7%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Amaral" Surname 11.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Amaral?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Amaral are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition