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

DeNava, 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 DeNava surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DeNava in America

DeNava is the 132206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DeNava surname appeared 128 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 DeNava.

The history of the last name DeNava

The surname DENAVA originated in the northern regions of Spain during the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Basque word "denaba," which translates to "the oak tree." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals who lived near or worked with oak trees.

In the early days, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Denava," "Deneba," and "Denaba," reflecting the regional dialects and variations in pronunciation. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Cartulario de la Catedral de Calahorra, a collection of medieval documents from the Cathedral of Calahorra, dated around 1185.

During the 13th century, the DENAVA surname began to spread throughout the northern regions of Spain, particularly in the provinces of Navarra and Álava. Records from this period indicate that several individuals bearing this name held positions of prominence within their local communities.

One notable figure was Juan de Denava, a wealthy landowner and merchant who lived in the town of Vitoria in the late 13th century. His name is mentioned in several trade documents and property deeds from that era.

In the 14th century, the DENAVA name appeared in the Libro de la Caza, a hunting manuscript commissioned by King Alfonso XI of Castile. The manuscript includes a reference to a falconer named Martín de Denava, who served in the royal court.

As the name continued to spread throughout Spain, it also found its way to the Americas during the colonial era. One of the earliest recorded instances of the DENAVA surname in the New World can be found in the archives of the Spanish settlement of San Agustín, Florida, where a soldier named Pedro de Denava was stationed in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, a prominent member of the DENAVA family was Catalina de Denava, a landowner and philanthropist from Seville. She was known for her charitable works and contributions to the construction of several churches and hospitals in the region.

Throughout the centuries, the DENAVA surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, and military leaders. One notable figure from the 19th century was Joaquín de Denava y Prieto (1815-1897), a renowned painter and art professor who taught at the prestigious Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DeNava

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

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 DeNava 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.

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

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

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