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 117480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hernández surname appeared 148 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 Hernandezh originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is a patronymic name, derived from the given name Hernando, which itself is a Spanish form of the Germanic name Ferdinand. The name Hernandezh indicates "son of Hernando."

In its earliest recorded forms, the name was spelled as Fernandez or Hernandez, with the "h" being a later addition. The name can be traced back to the 11th century in various regions of Spain, such as Castile, Aragon, and Andalusia.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Rodrigo Hernandez, a nobleman from Seville who lived in the 12th century. He is mentioned in several chronicles and historical records of the time.

During the Reconquista, when Christian kingdoms were retaking control of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors, many individuals with the surname Hernandezh played significant roles. For instance, Alonso Hernandez was a celebrated military leader who fought alongside King Ferdinand III of Castile in the 13th century.

As Spain expanded its territories in the Americas during the Age of Exploration, the surname Hernandezh spread to the New World. One notable figure was Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer and conquistador born in 1496, who led the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern-day United States.

Another famous bearer of the name was Miguel Hernandez, a Spanish poet and playwright born in 1910. He is considered one of the most influential literary figures of the 20th century in Spain.

Over time, the surname Hernandezh has undergone various spelling variations, such as Hernandes, Hernandez, and Hernandiz, reflecting regional differences and language evolution.

In summary, the surname Hernandezh has a rich history rooted in medieval Spain, with connections to nobility, military campaigns, exploration, and literary achievements. Its origins can be traced back to the 11th century, and it has since spread globally, carried by individuals of Spanish descent.

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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