Explore the Family Name Portugal
The meaning of Portugal
Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, French, English (Lincolnshire), and Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): ethnic name or habitational name for someone from Portugal or who had connections with Portugal. The name of the country derives from Late Latin Portucale, originally denoting the district around Oporto (Portus Cales, named with Latin portus ‘port, harbor’ + Cales, the ancient name of the city). In some cases the surname may be simply a nickname for someone who had business connections with Portugal. The English surname is a rare variant of Pettengill. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Carlos, Juan, Salvador, Alberto, Alejandra, Alejandro, Cesar, Fernando, Jesus, Luis, Manuel. Portuguese Aderito.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Portugal in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Portugal has seen an increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 15,269th most popular surname in the United States. By 2010, its rank climbed to 13,456, marking a change of 11.87%. The count or the number of people with the surname also rose from 1,767 in 2000 to 2,263 in 2010, representing a growth of 28.07%. Consequently, the proportion per 100,000 individuals increased by 16.67%, moving from 0.66 in 2000 to 0.77 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #15,269 | #13,456 | 11.87% |
| Count | 1,767 | 2,263 | 28.07% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.66 | 0.77 | 16.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Portugal
In terms of ethnicity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates that the majority of individuals with the Portugal surname identify as Hispanic. This demographic group increased by 7.18% from 2000 to 2010, climbing from 61.80% to 66.24%. There was a decrease in those who identified as White, moving from 26.03% to 23.69%, a change of -8.99%. Furthermore, those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander decreased by -9.30%, from 9.79% to 8.88%. Notably, there was a significant drop in those identifying with two or more races, moving from 1.98% in 2000 to 0.80% in 2010, a dramatic decline of -59.60%. No changes were observed in the Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnic groups, with both remaining at 0% for both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 61.8% | 66.24% | 7.18% |
| White | 26.03% | 23.69% | -8.99% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 9.79% | 8.88% | -9.3% |
| Two or More Races | 1.98% | 0.8% | -59.6% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |