The surname Ybarra is a Basque name, most likely derived from one of the region's many place names. The name is derived from the Arabic word "ibar," which meaning "meadow." Thus, a person with this name is a Meadowite. There are several theories about how the name became popular among the English-speaking world. One theory is that it was introduced to America by Basques who fled Spain after being persecuted for their beliefs. Another theory is that it was originally used as a nickname for someone who lived in or near a meadow. A third theory is that it was once common among English farmers but now is only found among people of Spanish origin. A few families with the surname Ybarra have been influential in history. One such family was a group of miners who were key players during the California Gold Rush. They came from the area now known as San Jose and some still live there today. Another family member was an American civil rights activist who worked with Martin Luther King Jr. He was born Robert Lee Ybarra and died at age 39. Still another family member was a baseball player who played first base for the New York Yankees in the 1950s and 1960s. His name is Rudy Ybarra. There are currently more than 100 million users on Facebook. It's the largest social networking site in the world.