The Churra originates in the Duero Valley in the autonomous community of Castile and León in north-western Spain.

Two of these are recognised as separate breeds: the Churra Lebrijana of Andalusia, also known as the Atlantica or Marismeña, named for Lebrija on the Guadalquivir and found in the coastal provinces of Cadiz and Huelva in south-western Spain;[2]: 741 [3]: 283 [6] and the Churra Tensina, named for the Valle de Tena in the province of Huesca in the central Pyrenees.

[2]: 931 [3]: 287 [7] Others include the small Sayaguesa, associated with the comarca of Sayago in the south of the province of Zamora and reared mostly for meat;[2]: 906  the Churra del Bierzo or Blanca del Bierzo, an endangered polled type from the comarca of El Bierzo in the province of León; and the Churra Castellana or Churra Campera of Castile.

[2]: 920 The Churra is a traditional triple-purpose breed, reared for milk, for meat and for its wool, which is of coarse quality suitable for carpet-making.

[2]: 920  Sheep of this type were taken by the conquistadores to the New World, where they gave rise to American breeds such as the Chiapas and the Navajo-Churro.