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

Columna, 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 Columna surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Columna in America

Columna is the 48060th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Columna surname appeared 440 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 Columna.

We can also compare 2010 data for Columna 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 Columna

The surname Columna originated in Italy during the medieval period. It is derived from the Latin word "columna," meaning "column" or "pillar." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a prominent column or worked as a builder or architect.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Columna can be found in the 13th-century manuscript "Chronica Civitatis Ianuensis" (Chronicle of the City of Genoa), which mentions a family with this surname residing in the city of Genoa. It is believed that this family may have been involved in the construction or maintenance of the city's iconic structures, such as the Porta Soprana or the Cathedral of San Lorenzo.

In the 14th century, the Columna family rose to prominence in Rome, producing several influential figures. One notable member was Giovanni Columna (1295-1348), a renowned jurist and canonist who served as the dean of the College of Cardinals. Another prominent figure was Prospero Columna (1452-1538), a military leader and condottiero who fought for the Papal States and the Republic of Venice.

The name Columna also has connections to the Italian nobility. In the 15th century, the Colonna family, a branch of the Columna lineage, became one of the most powerful noble families in Rome. They wielded significant political influence and owned vast estates in the region. Cardinal Oddo Colonna (1368-1417) and his nephew, Pope Martin V (1368-1431), were members of this illustrious family.

In the 16th century, the name Columna found its way to the Americas through Spanish and Portuguese colonization. One notable figure was Francisco Columna (1567-1631), a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Chile and served as the governor of the region from 1629 to 1631.

Another interesting reference to the name Columna can be found in the "Codex Mexicanus," a 16th-century Aztec codex that depicts a figure named "Columna" as one of the Aztec rulers. This suggests that the name may have been adopted or adapted by indigenous populations in the Americas during the colonial era.

While the surname Columna is now found in various parts of the world, it remains deeply rooted in its Italian origins, with a rich history spanning centuries and intersecting with significant historical figures and events.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Columna

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

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

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

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