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

Docena, 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 Docena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Docena in America

Docena is the 131379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Docena surname appeared 129 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 Docena.

The history of the last name Docena

The surname "DOCENA" has its origins in Spain, tracing back to the late 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "docena," meaning "dozen," which itself stems from the Latin word "duodecim." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone involved in the trade or distribution of goods sold by the dozen.

Records from the Spanish Inquisition in the late 15th and early 16th centuries show a few individuals bearing the surname Docena, primarily concentrated in the regions of Andalusia and Castile. One notable early mention is Juan Docena, a merchant from Seville who was accused of heresy in 1492 but later acquitted.

The earliest known recorded use of the surname dates back to 1526, when a certain Pedro Docena was listed as a landowner in the town of Baeza, in the province of Jaén, Andalusia. This area is known for its rich agricultural heritage, lending credence to the theory that the name may have been associated with trade or distribution of agricultural goods.

Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the Docena surname can be found in various Spanish records, such as baptismal registries, tax rolls, and legal documents. One notable individual was Miguel Docena, a renowned composer and organist who lived in Seville during the late 16th century.

In the 18th century, the surname gained prominence with the birth of Manuel Docena y Fernández (1736-1801), a celebrated Spanish painter renowned for his religious and historical works. His paintings can be found in various churches and museums across Spain.

Another notable figure was Juana Docena (1802-1879), a prominent philanthropist and patron of the arts in Madrid, who used her family's wealth to support various cultural and educational initiatives in the city.

During the 19th century, the Docena surname spread beyond Spain as Spanish emigrants ventured to other parts of the world, particularly Latin America and the Caribbean. One such individual was Antonio Docena (1845-1921), a Cuban-born writer and journalist who played a significant role in the Cuban independence movement against Spanish colonial rule.

As the centuries passed, the Docena surname continued to evolve and adapt to different regions and cultures, but its Spanish roots remained firmly embedded in its history and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Docena

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

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

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

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