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

Fernando, 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 Fernando surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fernando in America

Fernando is the 6123rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fernando surname appeared 5,596 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Fernando.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fernando 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 Fernando

The surname Fernando has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Spain and Portugal. It is derived from the Germanic personal name Ferdinand, which is composed of the elements "frið" (peace) and "nanþ" (daring, brave). The name gained prominence during the Middle Ages and was popularized by several notable historical figures.

Fernando is a variant of the Spanish and Portuguese form of the name Ferdinand. It first appeared in written records during the 12th century, particularly in documents related to the Reconquista, the medieval period of conflict between Christian and Muslim rulers in the Iberian Peninsula. One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Fernando Pérez de Traba (c. 1150-1207), a Galician nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the conquest of the Algarve region from the Moors.

In the 13th century, the name Fernando became closely associated with the Castilian monarchy. King Ferdinand III of Castile (1199-1252), also known as Saint Ferdinand, was a prominent figure who united the crowns of Castile and León and played a crucial role in the Reconquista. His achievements contributed to the widespread use of the name Fernando among the Spanish nobility and commoners alike.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the surname Fernando gained further prominence with the rise of the Spanish Empire. Notable bearers of the name include Fernando de Aragón (1452-1516), a Spanish prince and later Duke of Calabria, and Fernando Álvarez de Toledo (1507-1582), a Spanish nobleman and military commander who served as the Governor of the Spanish Netherlands.

One of the most famous historical figures with the surname Fernando is Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel (1556-1624), better known as Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba. He was a prominent Spanish general and statesman who served as the Governor of the Spanish Netherlands and played a significant role in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule.

In Portuguese history, the name Fernando is associated with several notable figures, including Fernando Mendes Pinto (c. 1510-1583), a Portuguese explorer and writer known for his travel memoir "Peregrinação," and Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935), a renowned Portuguese poet, writer, and philosopher.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Fernando has been documented in various historical records, including chronicles, genealogical documents, and literary works. Its variants, such as Fernandez and Fernandes, have also been widely used in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking regions, reflecting the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Iberian Peninsula.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fernando

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

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

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

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