Contreras History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Noble surnames, such as Contreras, evoke images of the ancient homeland of the Spanish people. The original bearer of the name Contreras, which is a localsurname, once lived, held land, or was born in the beautiful region of Spain. In Spain, hereditary surnameswere adopted according to fairly general rules and during the late Middle Ages, names that were derived from localities became increasingly widespread. Localnames originally denoted the proprietorship of the village or estate. 

Early Origins of the Contreras family

The surname Contreras was first found in Castile, an important Christian kingdom of medieval Spain.

Early History of the Contreras family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Contreras research.

Contreras Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Contreras, de Contreras and others.

Early Notables of the Contreras family (pre 1700)

Prominent among members of the family were sixteenth century Spanish novelist Jerónimo de Contreras; seventeenth century Spanish adventurer Alonso de Contreras, Knight Commander of the Order of Malta; seventeenth century Spanish painter Antonio de Contreras; nineteenth century Spanish military officer Juan Contreras y Martínez; nineteenth.

Contreras Ranking

In the United States, the name Contreras is the 563^rdmost popular surname with an estimated 52,227 people with that name. [1] However, in France, the name Contreras is ranked the 6,251^st most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 – 1,500 people with that name. [2]

 Contreras migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Contreras Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

• Diego de Contreras, who sailed to America in 1527
• García de Contreras, who sailed to Peru in 1534
• Gregorio de Contreras, who sailed to Cartagena in 1534
• Francisca de Contreras, who sailed to America in 1535
• Alonso de Contreras, who sailed to Veragua in 1535

Contreras Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Pedro Contreras, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1803 [3]
• Gonzalo De Contreras, who landed in America in 1814 [3]
• Diego De Contreras, who landed in America in 1827 [3]
• Gregorio De Contreras, who landed in Cartagena in 1834 [3]
• Garcia De Contreras, who landed in Peru in 1834 [3]

Contreras Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Contreras, aged 40, who landed in America from Rome, in 1904
• Antonio Contreras, aged 28, who landed in America from Malaga, Spain, in 1908
• Amora Contreras, aged 26, who landed in America from Santander, Spain, in 1915
• Antonio Contreras, aged 14, who settled in America, in 1918
• Armando Contreras, aged 6, who immigrated to the United States, in 1918

Contemporary Notables of the name Contreras (post 1700) +

• Joseph Contreras (1710-1780), Spanish famous maker of violins
• Ernesto Antonio Contreras Vásquez (1937-2020), Argentine cyclist who competed at the 1960, 1964 and the 1968 Summer Olympics
• Juan Manuel Guillermo Contreras Sepúlveda (1929-2015), Chilean military officer and the former head of the National Intelligence Directorate (DINA)
• Rey Paz Contreras (b. 1950), Filipino sculptor
• Patricio Contreras (b. 1947), Chilean-Argentine film actor
• José Contreras (b. 1971), Cuban Major League Baseball pitcher
• Ivan Contreras (b. 1974), Mexican volleyball player
• Gloria Contreras (b. 1934), Mexican dancer and choreographer
• José Eleazar López Contreras (1883-1973), President of Venezuela (1935 to 1941)
• Francisco Contreras, Chilean writer