2010
#135,593
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 124
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Ayona
A surname derived from the Yoruba word "ayọna" meaning "traveler" or "wanderer".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 127 Americans carry the last name Ayona. That puts it at #148,665 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,698,853 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ayona surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
127
1 in 2,698,853
Census rank
#148,665
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
111
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 111 bearers of the surname Ayona in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 148665th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ayona, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 96.4%. The next largest groups are White (2.7%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ayona
The surname AYONA is of Spanish origin, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Galicia, located in the northwestern part of Spain. AYONA is thought to be derived from the Galician word "ayón," which refers to a specific type of tree found in the region, known as the Whitebeam or Sorb tree.
In the early days, surnames were often derived from elements of nature, such as trees, plants, or geographic features. This practice was particularly common among rural communities, where people's livelihoods were closely tied to the land. The surname AYONA likely emerged as a way to identify families or individuals who lived near or were associated with the Whitebeam tree.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname AYONA can be found in a document dated 1581, which mentions a certain Juan de AYONA from the town of Pontevedra, in the province of Pontevedra, Galicia. This document provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the latter part of the 16th century.
Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname AYONA. One such person was Pedro AYONA, a Spanish explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to the Americas in the early 16th century. Pedro AYONA played a significant role in the conquest of Mexico and is mentioned in several historical accounts from that time period.
Another prominent figure was María AYONA, a renowned Spanish playwright and poet who lived during the 17th century. Born in Seville in 1620, María AYONA's works often explored themes of love, passion, and the complexities of human relationships. Her plays and poetry were widely celebrated during her lifetime and continue to be studied and performed to this day.
In the realm of art, the name AYONA is associated with Diego AYONA, a Spanish painter who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Born in Valencia in 1775, Diego AYONA was known for his masterful portraits and religious paintings, which adorned many churches and noble households across Spain.
Moving forward to the 20th century, we find José AYONA, a renowned Spanish architect who played a pivotal role in shaping the modern architectural landscape of Barcelona. Born in 1890, José AYONA's designs were heavily influenced by the Modernist movement, and his works can be found throughout the city, including the iconic Casa Batlló and Casa Milà.
While the surname AYONA is not as common as some other Spanish surnames, it has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of Spain. From explorers and artists to writers and architects, the name AYONA has been carried by individuals who have contributed significantly to various fields throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ayona
Among Census respondents with the surname Ayona, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 96.4%. The next largest groups are White (2.7%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Ayona bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Ayona surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino96.4% · 107
- White2.7% · 3
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ayona
Ayona appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#148,665
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
-13 bearers (-10.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 13,072 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #135,593 | 124 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #148,665 | 111 | 0.04 | -13 bearers (-10.5%) | Down 13,072 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Ayona surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #135,593 | #148,665 | -9.6% |
| Count | 124 | 111 | -10.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -7.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Ayona bearers went from 124 to 111 (-10.5% change). The surname moved down 13,072 positions in the national ranking, going from #135,593 to #148,665.
FAQ
Ayona surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ayona?
Name Census estimates that about 127 living Americans carry the surname Ayona. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,698,853 residents.
How common is Ayona?
Ayona ranks #148,665 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 111 people with the surname Ayona. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (127), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Ayona.
Has Ayona become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Ayona went from 124 recorded bearers to 111. That is a decrease of 13 (-10.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #135,593 to #148,665.
What does the Census say about the background of Ayona?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ayona, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 96.4%. The next largest groups are White (2.7%) and Two or More Races (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Ayona in the 2020 Census, accounting for 96.4% (107 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ayona appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (96.4%), White (2.7%), Two or More Races (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Ayona (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Ayona mean?
A surname derived from the Yoruba word "ayọna" meaning "traveler" or "wanderer". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Ayona (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Ayona?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.