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

Billena, 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 Billena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Billena in America

Billena is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Billena surname appeared 107 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 Billena.

The history of the last name Billena

The surname Billena is believed to have originated in the region of Andalusia, Spain, sometime during the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Arabic word "billin," meaning "pot" or "vessel," reflecting the region's Moorish influence. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person who crafted or sold pottery.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Billena can be found in the Repartimiento de Sevilla, a document from the 13th century that recorded the distribution of land and property in the city of Seville after its conquest by the Christian forces of King Ferdinand III of Castile. This document mentions a certain Pedro Billena, who was granted land in recognition of his services during the military campaign.

In the 15th century, records show a prominent family with the surname Billena residing in the town of Écija, located in the province of Seville. This family was known for their involvement in local politics and their ownership of extensive agricultural lands.

During the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Billena was Juan Billena (1520-1585), a renowned architect and master builder who oversaw the construction of several churches and public buildings in Seville. His masterpiece is considered to be the Cathedral of Seville, where he worked as the chief architect from 1560 until his death.

Another individual of note was María Billena (1598-1672), a Spanish poet and writer who gained recognition for her contributions to the literary scene in Seville during the Golden Age of Spanish literature. Her works were widely circulated and celebrated among the intellectuals and artistic circles of her time.

In the 18th century, the Billena family expanded their influence and wealth through their involvement in the lucrative wine trade. One member of this family, Francisco Billena (1725-1798), became a prominent figure in the sherry industry, establishing several successful vineyards and wineries in the region of Jerez de la Frontera.

As the surname Billena spread beyond Spain, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Bilena, Billene, and Billeni, reflecting the linguistic adaptations in different regions and cultures.

Despite its widespread distribution, the name Billena remains relatively uncommon, with limited documented instances throughout history. However, its origins and the stories of those who bore this surname provide a fascinating glimpse into the rich tapestry of Andalusian culture and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Billena

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

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

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

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