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

Canela, 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 Canela surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Canela in America

Canela is the 9030th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Canela surname appeared 3,619 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 Canela.

We can also compare 2010 data for Canela 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 Canela

The surname Canela has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Spain and Portugal. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "canella," which means "cinnamon" or "small cane." The name may have originated from an occupation related to the spice trade or the cultivation of cinnamon.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Canela can be found in the Catalonian region of Spain, where it appears in documents dating back to the 13th century. During this time, the name was likely associated with individuals involved in the spice trade or those who worked with cinnamon-related products.

In Portugal, the surname Canela can be traced back to the 15th century, where it is mentioned in various historical records and manuscripts. One notable example is the mention of Álvaro Canela, a Portuguese explorer who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India in the late 15th century.

The Canela surname also has connections to the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago located off the northwestern coast of Africa. Historical records indicate that individuals with the surname Canela were among the early settlers of these islands, likely arriving in the 15th and 16th centuries during the Spanish conquest and colonization.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Canela surname. One such figure was Gaspar Canela, a Spanish Dominican friar and missionary who lived in the 16th century. He was known for his work in establishing Christian missions in various parts of the Americas.

Another prominent individual with the Canela surname was Juan Canela, a Spanish military officer and explorer who participated in the conquest of the Inca Empire in the 16th century. He played a significant role in the Spanish colonization of Peru and is mentioned in several historical accounts of that period.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook Miguel Canela, a renowned Spanish poet and playwright from the 17th century. His works, which often explored themes of love and human emotion, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime and continue to be studied and appreciated to this day.

The surname Canela has also been associated with various place names throughout Spain and Portugal. For instance, there is a town called Canelas in the northern region of Portugal, as well as a municipality named Cañelas in the Spanish province of Guadalajara.

These historical references and connections showcase the rich heritage and significance of the Canela surname, which has its roots deeply embedded in the Iberian Peninsula and has since spread to various parts of the world through exploration, colonization, and migration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Canela

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

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

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

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