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

Gaona, 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 Gaona surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gaona in America

Gaona is the 3811th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gaona surname appeared 9,299 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Gaona.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gaona 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 Gaona

The surname Gaona has its origins in Spain, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old Spanish word "gaon," which translates to "proud" or "arrogant." This suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive nickname given to someone with a haughty demeanor.

One of the earliest documented references to the Gaona name can be found in the historic records of the Kingdom of Aragon, located in northeastern Spain. In the year 1265, a nobleman named Pedro de Gaona was mentioned in a land grant document, indicating the name's presence in the region during that period.

As the Gaona family grew and spread across Spain, variations in spelling emerged, such as Gaoña and Gauna. Some of these variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and local pronunciations.

During the 15th century, the Gaona name gained prominence through the exploits of Juan de Gaona, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés. Juan de Gaona, born in 1490 in Seville, Spain, and died in 1556 in Mexico City, played a notable role in the conquest and subsequent colonization of the region.

Another historically significant figure bearing the Gaona surname was Diego de Gaona, a 16th-century Spanish navigator and explorer. Born in Seville in 1520, Diego de Gaona embarked on several expeditions to the Americas, contributing to the exploration and mapping of various territories in the New World.

In the realm of literature, the 17th-century Spanish playwright and poet, Jerónimo de Gaona, achieved recognition for his works. Born in Madrid in 1608 and died in 1678, Jerónimo de Gaona's plays and poetry were widely appreciated during the Golden Age of Spanish literature.

The Gaona name also found its way into the ecclesiastical sphere, with Francisco de Gaona, a prominent Spanish Jesuit priest and theologian. Born in Burgos in 1636 and died in Madrid in 1711, Francisco de Gaona authored several influential theological texts and served as a respected academic at various Jesuit institutions.

In the 18th century, the Gaona name gained further recognition through the achievements of Mariana de Gaona, a Spanish painter and engraver. Born in Valencia in 1718 and died in Madrid in 1782, Mariana de Gaona's works were celebrated for their intricate details and artistic mastery.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who carried the Gaona surname throughout history, showcasing its presence and significance across various fields and regions of Spain and its territories.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gaona

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

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

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

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