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

Cadenas, 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 Cadenas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cadenas in America

Cadenas is the 15625th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cadenas surname appeared 1,870 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Cadenas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cadenas 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 Cadenas

The surname CADENAS is of Spanish origin, derived from the Spanish word "cadena," which means "chain." This name likely originated in the medieval period, possibly referring to an occupation or trade related to the production or use of chains.

The earliest recorded instances of the CADENAS surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Spain, including Andalusia, Catalonia, and Castile. It is believed that the name may have been initially adopted by individuals involved in metalworking, such as blacksmiths or locksmiths, who specialized in crafting chains or securing objects with chains.

One of the earliest known references to the CADENAS surname is in the "Libro de la Montería" (Book of the Hunt), a 14th-century manuscript commissioned by King Alfonso XI of Castile. This work mentions a certain Ruy Cadenas, who was likely a member of the Spanish nobility or a prominent huntsman during that era.

In the 15th century, the CADENAS surname appeared in various historical documents and records, including the "Libro del Repartimiento" (Book of Distribution), which documented the distribution of lands and properties after the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors.

One notable individual bearing the CADENAS surname was Diego Cadenas, a Spanish conquistador and explorer who participated in the conquest of the Canary Islands in the late 15th century. He was born around 1460 and played a significant role in the subjugation of the indigenous Guanche population.

Another prominent figure was Juan de Cadenas, a Spanish nobleman and military commander who served under King Ferdinand II of Aragon during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He participated in various military campaigns, including the conquest of Granada and the Italian Wars.

In the 16th century, the CADENAS surname spread beyond Spain to the Spanish colonies in the Americas. One example is Hernán Cadenas, a Spanish soldier and explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Mexico in the 1520s.

During the 17th century, the CADENAS surname was also found in various parts of Europe, likely due to Spanish migration and trade connections. For instance, Bartolomé Cadenas was a Flemish painter born in Antwerp in 1629, known for his religious and allegorical works.

Over the centuries, the CADENAS surname has been associated with various occupations, from metalworkers and soldiers to artists and intellectuals, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of individuals bearing this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cadenas

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

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

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

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