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

Godina, 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 Godina surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Godina in America

Godina is the 10064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Godina surname appeared 3,203 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Godina.

We can also compare 2010 data for Godina 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 Godina

The surname Godina is of Slavic origin and is believed to have originated in the region that is now modern-day Croatia and Serbia. It likely emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Slavic word "godina," which means "year" or "harvest," suggesting that the name may have been initially used to refer to someone who worked in agriculture or was responsible for keeping track of the annual harvests.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Godina can be found in a document from the city of Dubrovnik (formerly known as Ragusa), dating back to the late 15th century. The document mentions a merchant named Ivan Godina, who was involved in trade with neighboring regions. This provides evidence that the name was already in use and well-established by that time.

Another early reference to the Godina surname is found in the records of the Venetian Republic, where a nobleman named Nikola Godina is mentioned as having participated in diplomatic negotiations with the Venetians in the early 16th century. This suggests that the name had spread beyond its initial geographical origins and was present among the upper classes as well.

In the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the Godina surname was Marko Godina (1620-1687), a Croatian writer and scholar who authored several works on history and philosophy. He is considered one of the most influential intellectuals of his time in the Dalmatian region.

During the 18th century, the name Godina appears to have been particularly prevalent in the town of Sinj, located in central Dalmatia. Records from this period mention several individuals with this surname, including Jure Godina (1710-1782), a prominent local landowner and philanthropist who funded the construction of a church and a school in the town.

In more recent history, one of the most notable individuals with the surname Godina was Ante Godina (1923-2008), a Croatian artist and sculptor who gained recognition for his monumental public works and abstract sculptures. His works can be found in various cities across Croatia and several other European countries.

While the surname Godina has its roots in the Slavic regions of the Balkans, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, the historical records and references mentioned here provide insight into the name's origins and its long-standing presence in the regions that are now part of Croatia and Serbia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Godina

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

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

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

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