Viera
A surname most likely from a place name or from the Iberian word for a pike-like fish, with Portuguese and Spanish roots.
The #3,024 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 26,030 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Viera is generally treated as Iberian in origin. One likely source is the word for a scallop or pike-like fish in regional Romance usage, or a name formed from a place-name in Portugal, Spain, or Galicia. Because the historical record is not clear in the excerpts provided, the safest explanation is that it is a Romance surname with either locational or nickname-based roots.
History
Viera is found in Iberian surname tradition and is especially familiar in Portuguese and Spanish-speaking areas. In the Americas it spread through migration from the Iberian Peninsula, and modern bearers are found in several countries, including the United States. The surname may also appear in close variant forms such as Vieira, Vierra, and Viera.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The very similar surname Vieira is more common in Portuguese records, while Viera often reflects Spanish or simplified spelling traditions.
From the historical record
“VieiUemot. F. de Villcraot. Vierra. Ville (viera, oc). Viel, vielle. Vieux (oil). Vienne. Nom de ville et de clé- matite (IJcrri).”
— Dictionnaire des noms (French surnames)