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

González-Peña, 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 González-Peña surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of González-Peña in America

González-Peña is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The González-Peña surname appeared 123 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 González-Peña.

The history of the last name González-Peña

The surname GONZALEZPENA has its origins in Spain, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a compound name, formed by combining the common Spanish surname GONZALEZ with the word PENA. The latter part, PENA, is derived from the Latin word "penna," meaning feather or quill, suggesting a possible occupational connection to writers or scribes.

GONZALEZ is a patronymic surname, meaning "son of Gonzalo." Gonzalo itself is a Spanish form of the Germanic name Gundisalvus, which is composed of the elements "gund" (battle) and "salv" (protection or salvation). This name gained popularity in Spain during the Reconquista period, when many Christian soldiers bore names with these militaristic connotations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GONZALEZPENA surname appears in a 14th-century document from the region of Castile, where a certain Pedro GONZALEZPENA is mentioned as a landowner. This suggests that the name had already established itself by that time in the heart of medieval Spain.

In the 16th century, during the Spanish colonization of the Americas, several individuals bearing the GONZALEZPENA surname can be found in colonial records. Notable among them is Juan GONZALEZPENA, a conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico and later served as a governor in the region of Tabasco.

The surname GONZALEZPENA also has a notable presence in the annals of Spanish literature. Diego GONZALEZPENA (1570-1633) was a renowned playwright and poet from Seville, known for his contributions to the Spanish Golden Age of literature. His contemporaries included literary giants like Lope de Vega and Miguel de Cervantes.

Another noteworthy figure was Catalina GONZALEZPENA (1665-1737), a Spanish nun and mystic from the Carmelite order. She was known for her devotional writings and her reputation for piety and spiritual wisdom.

In the 19th century, José María GONZALEZPENA (1812-1878) was a prominent Mexican politician and journalist who served as a senator and played a significant role in the Reform War against the conservative regime.

While the GONZALEZPENA surname has its roots firmly planted in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly Latin America, due to Spanish colonization and migration. Its historical significance lies in its connection to the rich cultural and literary traditions of Spain, as well as its role in the exploration and settlement of the New World.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name González-Peña

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname González-Peña.

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 González-Peña 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.

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 González-Peña was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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