Explore the Family Name Xavier
The meaning of Xavier
Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan, and French: from a personal name bestowed in honor of Saint Francis Xavier (1506–52), Jesuit missionary to the Far East. He was a member of a noble family who took their name from the castle of Xavier (modern Spanish spelling Javier) in Navarre, where he was born. The placename Xavier is of Basque origin (see Echeverria). Compare Javier and also Sevier. History: This surname is listed in the (US) National Huguenot Society’s register of qualified Huguenot ancestors. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Manuel, Jose, Eduardo, Fernando, Francisco, Ramon, Alberto, Alda, Alicia, Armando, Carolina, Domingos. Portuguese Joao, Guilherme, Paulo.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Xavier in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Xavier has increased from 2000 to 2010. The ranking of the surname improved from 12,533 in 2000 to 9,638 in 2010, reflecting a 23.1% increase in popularity. Additionally, the count of people with this surname grew by 48.46%, from 2,268 in 2000 to 3,367 in 2010. The proportion per 100k also saw an increase of 35.71% during this period, jumping from 0.84 to 1.14.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,533 | #9,638 | 23.1% |
| Count | 2,268 | 3,367 | 48.46% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.84 | 1.14 | 35.71% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Xavier
As for ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows a shift among individuals with the surname Xavier between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of Asian/Pacific Islanders with this surname rose by 40.69%, while the number of individuals identifying as two or more races decreased by 68.83%. There was a slight increase of 1.42% in the white population with this surname. Conversely, the Hispanic population saw a decrease of 5.73%. The black population had a significant increase of 27.41%, and the American Indian and Alaskan Native population experienced the most growth with a whopping 69.11% increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 47.88% | 48.56% | 1.42% |
| Black | 16.71% | 21.29% | 27.41% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 11.38% | 16.01% | 40.69% |
| Hispanic | 7.85% | 7.4% | -5.73% |
| Two or More Races | 14.95% | 4.66% | -68.83% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.23% | 2.08% | 69.11% |
Xavier 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 Xavier is Spanish & Portuguese, which comprises 28.9% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (20.3%) and French & German (10.8%). Additional ancestries include Chinese, Nigerian, Malayali Subgroup, Southern Indian & Sri Lankan, and Ashkenazi Jewish.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Spanish & Portuguese | 28.9% |
| British & Irish | 20.3% |
| French & German | 10.8% |
| Other | 40.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Xavier
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 Xavier have recent ancestry locations in Portugal and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Madeira, Portugal | 43.20% |
| Azores, Portugal | 43.20% |
| Aveiro District, Portugal | 41.40% |
| Lisbon, Portugal | 40.50% |
| Coimbra District, Portugal | 39.60% |
What Xavier 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 Xavier 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-P312 and E-P179, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Leiva, Valerio, De Oliveira, Merino, Bustamante, De Souza, Sevilla, Arriola, Monteiro.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Xavier surname are: H1, H, R. 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 Xavier 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.
"Xavier" Surname 29.0%
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.
"Xavier" Surname 28.6%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Xavier" Surname 15.6%
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.
"Xavier" Surname 19.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Xavier?
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 Xavier are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition