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

Despenza, 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 Despenza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Despenza in America

Despenza is the 149395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Despenza surname appeared 110 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 Despenza.

The history of the last name Despenza

The surname DESPENZA has its origins in Spain, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "despensa," which means pantry or larder. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who were responsible for managing or overseeing the storage and distribution of food supplies, potentially within noble households or large estates.

During the Middle Ages, the DESPENZA name appeared in various historical documents and records throughout the regions of Castile and Aragon. One notable early mention is found in the Libro de las Behetrías, a 14th-century legal document that recorded land ownership and privileges in the region of Old Castile.

In the 15th century, records show a Juan DESPENZA serving as a steward in the household of a prominent nobleman in the city of Seville. His duties likely included overseeing the pantry and managing the household's food supplies.

As the Spanish Empire expanded into the Americas during the 16th and 17th centuries, some individuals bearing the DESPENZA surname accompanied the expeditions and settlements in the New World. One such individual was Diego DESPENZA, a soldier and explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his conquest of Mexico in the 1520s.

Another notable figure was Doña María DESPENZA, a wealthy landowner and benefactor who lived in the Spanish colonial city of Havana, Cuba, in the late 17th century. She is known for her generous donations to local churches and charitable organizations.

In the 18th century, a branch of the DESPENZA family settled in the Spanish colony of Louisiana, where they became prominent landowners and plantation owners. One member, Andrés DESPENZA (1742-1812), was a successful sugar planter and served as a local militia leader during the American Revolutionary War.

As the DESPENZA surname spread across Spain and its colonies, variations in spelling emerged, including DESPENCIA, DESPENSA, and DESPENSE. Additionally, some individuals adopted the name as a descriptive surname, reflecting their occupation or association with pantry or larder management, even if they were not directly related to the original DESPENZA lineage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Despenza

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

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

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

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