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

Galena, 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 Galena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Galena in America

Galena is the 106570th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Galena surname appeared 167 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 Galena.

We can also compare 2010 data for Galena 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 Galena

The surname GALENA is derived from the Spanish word "galena", which means "lead ore" or "lead sulfide". This name likely originated in Spain or Spanish-speaking regions during the Medieval or Renaissance periods, when mining and metallurgy were important industries.

The name GALENA may have been associated with individuals who worked in the mining or smelting of lead, or perhaps lived in areas known for lead mining. It could also have been a locational surname, referring to a specific place where lead was mined or processed.

One of the earliest known references to the surname GALENA can be found in the archives of the Spanish city of Cartagena, which has a long history of mining and metalworking. In the 16th century, a man named Juan Galena is mentioned as a skilled lead smelter.

In the 17th century, a prominent Spanish family named Galena settled in the mining town of Almadén, which was renowned for its rich lead and mercury deposits. This family played a significant role in the local mining industry and left a lasting impact on the region's history and culture.

Notable individuals with the surname GALENA include:

1. Miguel Galena (c. 1550-1615), a Spanish mining engineer and author who wrote several treatises on mining techniques and metallurgy.

2. Juana Galena (c. 1620-1698), a Spanish artist known for her intricate drawings and engravings depicting mining scenes and workers.

3. Carlos Galena (1745-1812), a Spanish military officer and explorer who led expeditions to map and survey mineral deposits in the Americas.

4. Emilia Galena (1825-1890), a Mexican activist and philanthropist who advocated for the rights of miners and their families.

5. Antonio Galena (1870-1936), an Italian-born American industrialist who founded several successful lead mining and smelting companies in the western United States.

While the name GALENA is not as common today as it once was, it remains an important part of the cultural and historical legacy of mining communities in various parts of the world, particularly in Spain and Latin America.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Galena

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

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

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

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