Explore the Family Name Chaves
The meaning of Chaves
1. Portuguese: habitational name from a place in the province of Tras-os-Montes named Chaves, from Latin (aquis) Flaviis ‘(at the) waters of Flavius’. The place was the site of sulfurous springs with supposedly health-giving properties, around which a settlement was founded in the 1st century ad by the Emperor Vespasian. 2. Portuguese and Galician: habitational name from any of numerous places called Chaves, generally from the plural of chave ‘key’, from Latin clavis. 3. Irish and English: variant of Chivers. Compare Chavers. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Manuel, Luis, Carlos, Juan, Roberto, Ruben, Cesar, Francisco, Jesus, Jorge, Mario. Portuguese Joao, Paulo, Agostinho, Duarte, Goncalo, Ilidio, Ligia, Vasco.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Chaves in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Chaves has increased in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it ranked 4602 in popularity with a count of 7055, while in 2010, it moved up to rank 4368 with an increase in count to 8137, marking a 15.34% growth. The proportion per 100,000 also saw a rise from 2.62 to 2.76 during this decade, which represents a 5.34% increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,602 | #4,368 | 5.08% |
| Count | 7,055 | 8,137 | 15.34% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.62 | 2.76 | 5.34% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Chaves
As for ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that most individuals with the surname Chaves identify as Hispanic, with a slight increase from 54.43% in 2000 to 54.97% in 2010. The second most common ethnic identity is White, which saw a small growth from 38.64% to 39.67%. Notably, there was a significant increase in those identifying as Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native, with changes of 45.63% and 36.36% respectively. However, those identifying with two or more races decreased dramatically from 3.67% to 1.20%. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander grew marginally from 1.67% to 1.90%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 54.43% | 54.97% | 0.99% |
| White | 38.64% | 39.67% | 2.67% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.67% | 1.9% | 13.77% |
| Black | 1.03% | 1.5% | 45.63% |
| Two or More Races | 3.67% | 1.2% | -67.3% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.55% | 0.75% | 36.36% |
Chaves 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 Chaves is Spanish & Portuguese, which comprises 54.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are Indigenous American (11.6%) and British & Irish (10.6%). Additional ancestries include French & German, Italian, Eastern European, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Scandinavian.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Spanish & Portuguese | 54.2% |
| Indigenous American | 11.6% |
| British & Irish | 10.6% |
| Other | 23.6% |
Possible origins of the surname Chaves
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 Chaves have recent ancestry locations in Portugal and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Azores, Portugal | 40.10% |
| Lisbon, Portugal | 39.50% |
| Madeira, Portugal | 39.50% |
| Aveiro District, Portugal | 37.70% |
| Porto District, Portugal | 35.90% |
What Chaves 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 Chaves 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 R-L21 and E-M78, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Heredia, Merino, Bustamante, Farias, Mello, Bettencourt, Sutherland, De Souza, Oliveira, Iglesias.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Chaves surname are: A2, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to some of the first Americans
Though the Ice Age was beginning to retreat when your A2 ancestors first entered North America, there were still massive barriers blocking their way. Glaciers and inhospitable climate covered much of the continent, blocking entry into the interior. Nonetheless, researchers have found evidence that a wave of American founders migrated over 13,000 kilometers to reach southern Chile in only 2,000 years, a blink of an eye in the story of human migration! Their highway to the south was the coast of the Pacific, stocked with fish, diverse marine mammals, and other valuable resources in the rich kelp forests of the upper latitudes and in the abundant fresh-water rivers near the equator. Because of this rapid movement south, the A2 haplogroup and its diverse branches are found throughout North and South America.
What do people with the surname Chaves 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.
"Chaves" Surname 32.2%
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.
"Chaves" Surname 40.6%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Chaves" Surname 19.7%
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.
"Chaves" Surname 13.9%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Chaves?
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 Chaves are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition