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

Gorena, 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 Gorena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gorena in America

Gorena is the 61436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gorena surname appeared 327 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 Gorena.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gorena 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 Gorena

The surname Gorena is believed to have its origins in the Basque region of northern Spain and southwestern France. It is derived from the Basque word "goren," meaning "highest" or "uppermost," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in an elevated area or a higher part of a settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared in a charter from the village of Gorenaga in the province of Gipuzkoa, Spain. This village name, which incorporates the root "goren," further reinforces the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

In the 14th century, a nobleman named Juan de Gorena was mentioned in historical records from the Kingdom of Navarre, indicating that the name had gained prominence among the nobility of the region. Another notable figure was Pedro Gorena, a merchant from San Sebastián who traded with English and Dutch merchants in the 16th century.

During the 17th century, the Gorena family played a significant role in the Basque whaling industry, with several members serving as captains and navigators on whaling expeditions. One such individual was Martín de Gorena, who led successful voyages to the waters off Newfoundland and Greenland between 1620 and 1640.

In the 18th century, a renowned Basque artist named Ignacio Gorena gained recognition for his religious paintings and frescoes adorning churches throughout the region. His works can still be admired in several historical churches, including the Basilica of Santa María in San Sebastián.

As the Gorena surname spread beyond its Basque roots, it also found its way into other parts of Spain and Latin America. Notable individuals bearing this name include José Gorena, a Chilean military officer who fought in the War of the Pacific (1879-1884), and Miguel Gorena, a Mexican politician and diplomat who served as ambassador to the United States in the early 20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gorena

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

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

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

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