2010
#152,628
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Billena
A surname derived from the Germanic personal name Bilulin, meaning "little bill" or "beak-like."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 126 Americans carry the last name Billena. That puts it at #149,446 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,720,273 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Billena 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
126
1 in 2,720,273
Census rank
#149,446
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
110
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 110 bearers of the surname Billena in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 149446th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Billena, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 88.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.5%) and Hispanic (4.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Billena
Among Census respondents with the surname Billena, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 88.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.5%) and Hispanic (4.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Billena 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 Billena surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander88.2% · 97
- Two or more races5.5% · 6
- Hispanic or Latino4.5% · 5
- White1.8% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Billena
Billena 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
#149,446
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
+3 bearers (+2.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 3,182 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #152,628 | 107 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #149,446 | 110 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.8%) | Up 3,182 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 Billena 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 | #152,628 | #149,446 | 2.1% |
| Count | 107 | 110 | 2.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -8.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Billena bearers went from 107 to 110 (+2.8% change). The surname moved up 3,182 positions in the national ranking, going from #152,628 to #149,446.
FAQ
Billena surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Billena?
Name Census estimates that about 126 living Americans carry the surname Billena. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,720,273 residents.
How common is Billena?
Billena ranks #149,446 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 110 people with the surname Billena. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (126), 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 Billena.
Has Billena become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Billena went from 107 recorded bearers to 110. That is an increase of 3 (+2.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #152,628 to #149,446.
What does the Census say about the background of Billena?
Among Census respondents with the surname Billena, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 88.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.5%) and Hispanic (4.5%). 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?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Billena in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.2% (97 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Billena appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (88.2%), Two or More Races (5.5%), Hispanic (4.5%). 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 Billena (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 Billena mean?
A surname derived from the Germanic personal name Bilulin, meaning "little bill" or "beak-like." 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 Billena (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 common is the surname Billena?
Want to know how many Americans have the surname Billena? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.