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

Hernández, 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 Hernández surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hernández in America

Hernández is the 104156th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hernández surname appeared 172 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 Hernández.

The history of the last name Hernández

The surname Hernandeza originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the personal name Hernando, a Spanish form of Ferdinand or Fernando, which means "journey" or "adventurer." The suffix "-ez" or "-eza" was commonly added to Spanish surnames to indicate family lineage or belonging.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hernandeza can be found in the records of the Spanish Inquisition from the 15th century. These records mention a certain Diego Hernandeza, who was accused of heresy but later acquitted.

In the 16th century, the Hernandeza family was prominent in the region of Andalusia, particularly in the city of Seville. A notable figure from this time was Juan Hernandeza (1510-1580), a renowned navigator and explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico.

During the colonial era, many Spaniards with the surname Hernandeza migrated to the Americas, particularly to regions like Mexico, Peru, and Argentina. One famous individual was Tomás Hernandeza (1620-1688), a Spanish conquistador who established settlements in what is now Texas.

In the 18th century, the Hernandeza family had a strong presence in the mining industry in New Spain (present-day Mexico). A prominent figure from this period was María Hernandeza (1745-1812), a wealthy mine owner and philanthropist who funded the construction of several churches and schools.

As the Spanish empire expanded, the Hernandeza name spread to other parts of the world, including the Philippines and the Canary Islands. In the 19th century, a notable figure was José Hernandeza (1825-1890), a Spanish military officer who served in the Carlist Wars and later became the governor of the Canary Islands.

Throughout its history, the surname Hernandeza has been associated with various professions, including exploration, mining, military service, and governance. While the name has evolved slightly in spelling over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period in Spain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hernández

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

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

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

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