Camara History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Spain

Etymology of Camara

What does the name Camara mean?

The distinguished Spanish surname Camara is of locative origin, being based on a physical or geographic feature found in the vicinity of the eponymous bearer's place of abode. In this case, the Spanish word "camara" means "granary or barn," and the surname would indicate that the original bearer lived beside a granary. In the feudal manors and estates of the Middle Ages, the granary would have been used by the lord's extensive household, and would have been a local landmark.

Early Origins of the Camara family

The surname Camara was first found in the province of Galicia in the northwestern region of the Iberian peninsula. However, like many locative surnames, Camara arose independently in various parts of Spain. Records show that a branch of the family had its ancestral home in the Valley of Ayala, in Amurrio (Alava).

Early History of the Camara family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Camara research. Another 138 words (10 lines of text) covering the year 1576 is included under the topic Early Camara History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Camara Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Camára, Camarillo, Camarino, Camarero, Cambra, Lacambra, Cammarata, Camarena and many more.

Early Notables of the Camara family

Prominent among bearers of the Camara family name at this time was

Juan de la Camara, as well as Diego de la Camara, who both received approval of their Nobility in the Royal Chancelry of Valladolid in 1576

Camara Ranking

In the United States, the name Camara is the 4,786^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Camara is ranked the 4,645^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 2

Camara migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Camara Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

Baltasar De La Camara who arrived in Mexico in 1565
Juana de la Camara who settled in New Spain with three sisters, Diego de Camara who settled in Ecuador in 1584
Pedro De La Camara who immigrated to the Philippines in 1594

Camara Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Francisco V Camara Peresteitto who arrived in New York City in 1822
Juan Camara, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1860 3
Mr. Jose L. Camara, aged 27, Portuguese laborer who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Vega" in 1891
Mr. Manoel de Camara, aged 18, Portuguese laborer who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Vega" in 1892
Manuel Camara, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1898 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Camara (post 1700) +

Juan de la Cámara (1525-1602), Spanish conquistador, nobleman, and colonial administrator known for his role in the Spanish Conquest of Yucatán
Juan Rodríguez de la Cámara (1390-1450), also known as Juan Rodríguez del Padrón, Spanish poet, last Galician writer and poet
Javier Cámara Rodríguez (b. 1967), Spanish actor
Mariama Camara (1958-1959), Guinean politician and businesswoman
Jessica Camara (b. 1988), Canadian professional boxer
Souleymane Camara (b. 1982), Senegalese footballer
Aboubacar Sidiki "Titi" Camara (b. 1972), Guinean former professional footballer
Zoumana "Papus" Camara (b. 1979), French professional football manager and former player
Assan Musa Camara (1923-2013), Gambian politician
Fatou Kiné Camara (b. 1964), Senegalese lawyer and women's rights campaigner
... (Another 26 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)