Explore the Family Name Peru
The meaning of Peru
1. Basque (mainly Navarre): from the personal name Peru, Basque equivalent of Peter. 2. Portuguese: nickname from peru ‘turkey(cock)’. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Carlos, Francisco, Manuel, Amado, Angel, Enriqueta, Felipe, Imelda, Jose, Julio, Reyna, Roque.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Peru in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Peru" showed modest changes between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 28,256th most popular surname in the United States, but by 2010, it had slipped slightly to 29,019th place, marking a decrease of 2.7%. The total count of individuals with this surname increased slightly from 797 in 2000 to 818 in 2010, a growth rate of 2.63%. However, when considering proportion per 100,000 residents, the prevalence of the surname Peru decreased by 6.67%, from 0.3 in 2000 to 0.28 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #28,256 | #29,019 | -2.7% |
| Count | 797 | 818 | 2.63% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.3 | 0.28 | -6.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Peru
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Peru also saw some shifts between 2000 and 2010, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. The percentage of people with the Peru surname identifying as Hispanic remained the highest among all groups, increasing slightly from 63.86% in 2000 to 64.43% in 2010. The percentage of those identifying as White decreased by 7.15%, falling from 26.73% in 2000 to 24.82% in 2010. The group identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 16.26%, going from 3.26% in 2000 to 3.79% in 2010. The proportion of individuals of Two or more races decreased slightly, from 3.89% to 3.79%. Data for those identifying as Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native was suppressed for privacy in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 63.86% | 64.43% | 0.89% |
| White | 26.73% | 24.82% | -7.15% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 3.26% | 3.79% | 16.26% |
| Two or More Races | 3.89% | 3.79% | -2.57% |
| Black | 1.63% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.63% | 0% | 0% |