Find out how popular the last name Hernández-Peña 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-Peña.

Hernández-Peña, 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-Peña surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hernández-Peña in America

Hernández-Peña is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hernández-Peña surname appeared 125 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-Peña.

The history of the last name Hernández-Peña

The surname HERNANDEZPENA has its origins in Spain, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a compound name, derived from the combination of two separate surnames – Hernandez and Pena.

The Hernandez portion of the name is believed to have originated from the personal name Hernando, a Spanish variant of Ferdinand. This name can be traced back to the Visigothic era in Spain, originating from the Germanic name Ferdinandus, meaning "journey" or "adventurer."

The Pena component of the surname is derived from the Spanish word "peña," which translates to "rock" or "cliff." It was likely initially used as a topographic surname, referring to someone who lived near or on a rocky terrain or cliff.

In the 13th century, the earliest recorded instances of the name HERNANDEZPENA appeared in various Spanish documents and records, though the exact origins of the compound name are unclear. It is possible that the name arose through marriage or inheritance, combining the two surnames of Hernandez and Pena.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Pedro Hernandez Pena, a Spanish explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Mexico in the 16th century. He played a significant role in the expedition and was among the first Europeans to encounter the Aztec civilization.

Another prominent individual was Juan Hernandez Pena, a 17th-century Spanish military officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of several provinces in New Spain (present-day Mexico and Central America).

In the 18th century, a renowned scholar and writer named Tomás Hernandez Pena made significant contributions to Spanish literature and philosophy. His works explored various topics, including ethics, religion, and the nature of human existence.

During the 19th century, Francisco Hernandez Pena, a Spanish painter, gained recognition for his stunning landscapes and portraits, which captured the beauty of the Spanish countryside and its people.

In more recent times, Antonio Hernandez Pena, a 20th-century Spanish architect, left a lasting legacy with his innovative designs and contributions to modern architecture in Spain and beyond.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname HERNANDEZPENA throughout history, leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Spain and its former colonies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hernández-Peña

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

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-Peña 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-Peña 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-Peña, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!