Buenafe last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Buenafe

A Spanish surname meaning "good faith" or "sincere belief".

Buenafe, 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 Buenafe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Buenafe in America

Buenafe is the 56972nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Buenafe surname appeared 358 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 Buenafe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Buenafe 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 56972 64750 -12.78%
Count 358 287 22.02%
Proportion per 100k 0.12 0.11 8.70%

The history of the last name Buenafe

The surname BUENAFE is of Spanish origin, originating in the medieval period when surnames first came into widespread use in that region. The name is derived from the Spanish phrase "buena fe," which translates to "good faith" or "good intention." This suggests the name may have been initially bestowed upon a person known for their honesty, trustworthiness, or sincere beliefs.

The earliest recorded instances of the BUENAFE surname can be traced back to the late 15th century in various Spanish records and documents. One notable example is found in the historical archives of the city of Seville, where a certain Pedro de BUENAFE is mentioned as a landowner and respected citizen in the year 1492.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, as Spanish exploration and colonization efforts expanded across the globe, the BUENAFE name likely traveled with Spanish settlers to various parts of the Americas and the Philippines. This diaspora contributed to the surname's further spread and establishment in regions such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

One prominent figure bearing the BUENAFE surname was Juan de BUENAFE, a Spanish conquistador and explorer born in 1525. He participated in several expeditions to the Americas and is known for his role in the conquest of present-day Colombia and Ecuador.

Another notable individual was María de BUENAFE, a nun and educator who lived in Mexico City during the late 17th century. She founded one of the earliest schools for girls in the region and was renowned for her dedication to education and social welfare initiatives.

In the 19th century, a prominent member of the BUENAFE family was José María BUENAFE, a Mexican politician and diplomat born in 1810. He served as a senator and played a significant role in negotiating several important treaties between Mexico and other nations.

The BUENAFE surname also has a presence in the Philippines, likely introduced during the Spanish colonial period. One notable Filipino with this surname was Emilio BUENAFE, a renowned painter and educator who lived from 1877 to 1963. He was a pioneer of modern art in the Philippines and helped establish several art schools and organizations.

Throughout its history, the BUENAFE surname has maintained a strong connection to its Spanish roots and the values of honesty, integrity, and good intentions implied by its etymology. While the name has spread across various regions and cultures, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in Spain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Buenafe

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

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 Buenafe was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 11.73% 42
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 78.77% 282
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 5.87% 21
Hispanic Origin 3.63% 13

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 Buenafe has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 11.73% 17.42% -39.04%
Black 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 78.77% 72.82% 7.85%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 5.87% 4.53% 25.77%
Hispanic 3.63% 4.88% -29.38%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Buenafe last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 4, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/buenafe-surname-popularity/.

"Buenafe last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/buenafe-surname-popularity/. Accessed 4 December, 2024

Buenafe last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/buenafe-surname-popularity/.

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