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

Barrena, 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 Barrena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Barrena in America

Barrena is the 85659th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Barrena surname appeared 218 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 Barrena.

We can also compare 2010 data for Barrena to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Barrena

The surname Barrena originated in the Basque region of northern Spain and southern France, an area known for its unique language and cultural traditions. The name is thought to derive from the Basque word "barrena," which means "drill" or "bore." This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with a profession or trade related to carpentry, metalworking, or mining.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Barrena surname can be found in the Cartulario de San Millán de la Cogolla, a medieval manuscript dating back to the 11th century. This document contains references to individuals with the surname Barrena, indicating that the name was already in use during this time period in the Basque region.

In the 13th century, there are records of a notable Barrena family in the town of Salvatierra, located in the Basque province of Álava. This family played a significant role in the local governance and administration of the town during the medieval period.

The Barrena surname also appears in historical records from the neighboring regions of Navarre and Aragon. For example, Pedro Barrena (born around 1450) was a prominent figure in the city of Pamplona during the 15th century, serving as a merchant and councilman.

As the Barrena family spread throughout Spain and beyond, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Barreña, Barrenha, and Barrenna. Some of these variations may have been influenced by local dialects or linguistic adaptations.

Notable individuals with the surname Barrena include:

1. Agustín Barrena (1857-1908), a Spanish painter and illustrator known for his works depicting scenes from Basque rural life.
2. Javier Barrena (born 1973), a Spanish professional tennis player who achieved a career-high ATP ranking of No. 42 in 2000.
3. Susana Barrena (born 1976), a Spanish politician and member of the European Parliament representing the Basque Country.
4. Víctor Barrena (born 1980), a Spanish professional basketball player who has played for several teams in the Spanish ACB league.
5. Enrique Barrena (1900-1964), a Mexican artist and muralist known for his works depicting indigenous themes and social issues.

While the Barrena surname has its roots in the Basque region, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including Latin America, due to migration and the Spanish diaspora. However, the name's origins and historical significance remain deeply intertwined with the cultural heritage of the Basque people and their ancestral lands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Barrena

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

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 Barrena 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Barrena has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Barrena was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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