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 77264th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hernández surname appeared 248 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 HERNANDEZM is of Spanish origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period in the Iberian Peninsula. It is believed to have originated from the personal name "Hernando," a Spanish variant of the Germanic name "Ferdinand," which means "brave traveler."

The earliest recorded instances of the name HERNANDEZM can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries, primarily in regions that were under the influence of the Kingdom of Castile and the Crown of Aragon. One notable example is Hernando de Córdoba (1453-1515), a Spanish conquistador who played a crucial role in the conquest of Cuba and the exploration of the Gulf of Mexico.

During the Age of Exploration and the expansion of the Spanish Empire, the name HERNANDEZM began to spread across the Americas as Spanish settlers and conquistadors established colonies in the New World. One prominent figure from this era was Hernán Cortés (1485-1547), the famous conquistador who led the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire and the subsequent colonization of Mexico.

In the realm of literature, the name HERNANDEZM is associated with Miguel Hernández (1910-1942), a renowned Spanish poet and playwright who gained recognition for his works during the Spanish Civil War era. His poetic compositions, such as "Viento del Pueblo" and "El Rayo que no Cesa," have left a lasting impact on Spanish literature.

Another noteworthy individual bearing the surname HERNANDEZM is Gregorio Hernández (1576-1636), a Spanish-born sculptor and woodcarver who is celebrated as one of the most influential artists of the Spanish Colonial era in Venezuela. His intricate and expressive works, particularly religious sculptures, can be found in numerous churches and museums across the country.

In the realm of sports, Roberto Hernández (1964-2021), a former baseball pitcher from Mexico, enjoyed a successful career in Major League Baseball, playing for teams like the Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cleveland Indians. He was known for his tenacity and resilience on the mound, earning him the nickname "El Guapo" (The Handsome One).

The surname HERNANDEZM has also been associated with various place names throughout Spanish-speaking regions, particularly in Spain and Latin America. For instance, the town of Hernández in the province of Guadalajara, Spain, and the municipality of Hernández in the state of Táchira, Venezuela, both bear this name, likely derived from the original surname.

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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