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

Ena, 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 Ena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ena in America

Ena is the 110825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ena surname appeared 159 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 Ena.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ena 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 Ena

The surname ENA originated in the Basque region of northern Spain and southern France, dating back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Basque word "ena," which means "the good one" or "the virtuous one." The name likely emerged as a descriptive surname given to individuals known for their upright character or moral fiber.

In the 11th century, the surname ENA appeared in various records and documents from the Basque Country, such as land deeds and municipal registries. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in a cartulary from the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla, where a certain Fortún Ena is mentioned as a landowner in the year 1063.

The ENA surname can also be traced back to the village of Ena, located in the Basque province of Álava, Spain. This place name is believed to be derived from the same Basque root word, and it is possible that some individuals adopted the surname based on their association with this location.

During the 13th century, the surname ENA gained prominence in the Kingdom of Navarre, where several members of the Ena family held positions of influence. Notably, Pedro Ena served as the Mayor of Pamplona in 1275, and his descendants continued to play active roles in the local government and nobility for generations.

In the 15th century, the ENA surname made its way to the Americas during the Spanish colonization of the New World. One of the earliest recorded instances is Juan de Ena, a soldier and explorer who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés in the early 1500s.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the ENA surname. These include:

1. Gaspar Ena (1554-1624), a Spanish military engineer and architect who designed fortifications in various Spanish cities.
2. María Ena de Battenberg (1887-1965), Queen consort of Spain as the wife of King Alfonso XIII.
3. Agustín Ena (1912-1995), a Spanish businessman and entrepreneur who founded the Viña Ena winery in Ribera del Duero.
4. Ángel Ena Bordonada (1900-1976), a Spanish politician and diplomat who served as the Ambassador to Italy during the Franco regime.
5. Joaquín Ena Pueyo (1836-1906), a Spanish lawyer and politician who served as the Minister of Justice and later as the President of the Senate.

The surname ENA has a rich history rooted in the Basque region, with connections to various places, prominent individuals, and significant events throughout the centuries. Despite its relatively small population, the ENA name has left an indelible mark across multiple domains, including politics, military, architecture, and business.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ena

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

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

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

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