Find out how popular the last name Arcena is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Arcena.

Arcena, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Arcena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arcena in America

Arcena is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arcena surname appeared 123 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Arcena.

The history of the last name Arcena

The surname Arcena originated in Spain during the late 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "arco," meaning "arch" or "bow," likely referring to a location or landmark featuring an archway or curved structure. The name may have been initially an occupational surname for someone who lived near or worked on arches or arched structures.

Arcena is thought to have roots in the regions of Galicia and Asturias in northwestern Spain. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in parish records and municipal archives from these areas, dating back to the late 1400s and early 1500s. Variations in spelling, such as "Arçena" and "Arcenna," were common in earlier times.

One notable individual bearing the Arcena surname was Pedro Arcena, a Spanish architect and stonemason who lived in the late 16th century. He is credited with designing and overseeing the construction of several churches and monasteries in Galicia, including the Monastery of San Martín Pinario in Santiago de Compostela, completed in 1592.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Arcena family settled in the Spanish colony of New Spain (present-day Mexico). Historical records show that Juan de Arcena, born in 1624 in Seville, Spain, migrated to Mexico City in the 1650s and established a successful textile trade business. His descendants continued the family's commercial endeavors in the region for several generations.

Another prominent figure with the Arcena surname was María Arcena, a Spanish writer and poet who lived in the late 18th century. Born in Asturias in 1758, she gained recognition for her poetry collections and essays on literature and philosophy. Her works were widely circulated and praised by literary critics of the time.

In the 19th century, Tomás Arcena, a Spanish military officer and engineer, played a significant role in the construction of fortifications and defensive structures during the Carlist Wars in Spain. He served under General Rafael Maroto and was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of several strategic forts and batteries.

While the Arcena surname has its roots in Spain, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly to Latin American countries due to Spanish colonization and migration. However, its earliest origins and documented historical references can be traced back to the regions of Galicia and Asturias in northwestern Spain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arcena

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Arcena.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Arcena was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Arcena was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Arcena, please contact us.

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