2000
#16,673
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,581
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.59
Rare Last name
Colmenero
An occupational surname referring to a beekeeper or someone who tended beehives.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,321 Americans carry the last name Colmenero. That puts it at #14,242 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.68 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 147,675 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Colmenero 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
2.3K
1 in 147,675
Census rank
#14,242
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,024 bearers of the surname Colmenero in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.68 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14242nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Colmenero, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 91.6%. The next largest groups are White (7.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Colmenero
The surname Colmenero originated in Spain, with its earliest recorded usage dating back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the Spanish word "colmena," which means "beehive," and the suffix "-ero," indicating an occupation. This suggests that the original bearers of the name were likely beekeepers or individuals involved in apiculture.
In the 14th century, the name Colmenero appeared in various historical documents, including the Catastro de Ensenada, a census-like record compiled in the 18th century that documented individuals and their occupations. This record provides valuable insights into the prevalence of the surname and its association with beekeeping during that era.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Colmenero was Juan Colmenero, who lived in the city of Seville in the late 15th century. Historical records indicate that he was a prominent beekeeper and supplier of honey to the local nobility and religious institutions.
In the 16th century, the Colmenero family established themselves in the region of La Mancha, where they were known for their expertise in apiculture. One notable member was Pedro Colmenero (1510-1585), who authored a treatise on beekeeping practices, which became a valuable reference work for generations of apiarists.
During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, several individuals bearing the surname Colmenero made their way to the New World. One such individual was Diego Colmenero (1570-1632), who settled in the viceroyalty of New Spain (present-day Mexico) and established a successful beekeeping operation, contributing to the development of apiculture in the region.
Another noteworthy figure was María Colmenero (1625-1692), a renowned beekeeper from the city of Cordoba, Spain. Her expertise in apiculture earned her recognition, and she was sought after for her advice and guidance on beekeeping techniques by both local and neighboring communities.
Over the centuries, the surname Colmenero has spread beyond Spain to other parts of the world, including Latin America, where it is still associated with beekeeping and honey production in various regions. While the name may have evolved and diversified over time, its connection to the historical occupation of beekeeping remains a significant part of its legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Colmenero
Among Census respondents with the surname Colmenero, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 91.6%. The next largest groups are White (7.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Colmenero 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 Colmenero surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino91.6% · 1,853
- White7.3% · 148
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3% · 6
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 6
- Two or more races0.3% · 6
- Black or African American0.2% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Colmenero
Colmenero appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#14,827
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,999
+418 bearers (+26.4%)
Per 100,000 0.68
Rank movement Up 1,846 places
2020
#14,242
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,024
+25 bearers (+1.3%)
Per 100,000 0.68
Rank movement Up 585 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #16,673 | 1,581 | 0.59 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #14,827 | 1,999 | 0.68 | +418 bearers (+26.4%) | Up 1,846 places |
| 2020 | #14,242 | 2,024 | 0.68 | +25 bearers (+1.3%) | Up 585 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 Colmenero 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 | #14,827 | #14,242 | 3.9% |
| Count | 1,999 | 2,024 | 1.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.68 | 0.68 | -0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Colmenero bearers went from 1,999 to 2,024 (+1.3% change). The surname moved up 585 positions in the national ranking, going from #14,827 to #14,242.
FAQ
Colmenero surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Colmenero?
Name Census estimates that about 2,321 living Americans carry the surname Colmenero. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 147,675 residents.
How common is Colmenero?
Colmenero ranks #14,242 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.68 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,024 people with the surname Colmenero. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,321), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.68 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.68 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Colmenero.
Has Colmenero become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Colmenero went from 1,999 recorded bearers to 2,024. That is an increase of 25 (+1.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #14,827 to #14,242.
What does the Census say about the background of Colmenero?
Among Census respondents with the surname Colmenero, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 91.6%. The next largest groups are White (7.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.3%). 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?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Colmenero in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.6% (1,853 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Colmenero appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (91.6%), White (7.3%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.3%). 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 Colmenero (2000, 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 Colmenero mean?
An occupational surname referring to a beekeeper or someone who tended beehives. 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 Colmenero (0.68 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 many people share the surname Colmenero?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.