Gonzalezpena
Spanish dual surname combining "González" (son of Gonzalo) and "Peña" (referring to a rocky outcrop).
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Gonzalezpena. That puts it at #136,449 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gonzalezpena surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#136,449
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
123
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 123 bearers of the surname Gonzalezpena in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 136449th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gonzalezpena, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 96.8%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gonzalezpena
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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gonzalezpena
Among Census respondents with the surname Gonzalezpena, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 96.8%.
The bar chart below shows how Gonzalezpena bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Gonzalezpena surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino96.8%
- Unknown or suppressed3.3%
FAQ
Gonzalezpena surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Gonzalezpena?
The surname Gonzalezpena holds position #136,449 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Gonzalezpena surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gonzalezpena, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 96.8%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.