Luna
A surname of Italian and Spanish origin, meaning "moon."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 121,438 Americans carry the last name Luna. That puts it at #298 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 35.43 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,822 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Luna surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
121K
1 in 2,822
Census rank
#298
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
35.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
105K
common in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 104,518 bearers of the surname Luna in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 35.43 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 298th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Luna, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.8%. The next largest groups are White (8.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Luna
The surname Luna is of Spanish origin, derived from the Latin word "luna" meaning "moon." It is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with a pale or moon-like complexion, or perhaps for someone who was born at night under the light of the moon.
The name can be traced back to medieval Spain, where it was first recorded in the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Juan Luna, a Spanish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Reconquista, the centuries-long campaign by Christian kingdoms to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule.
During the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish conquistadors and settlers brought the surname Luna to the Americas, where it took root in various regions, particularly in Mexico and the southwestern United States. It is also found in parts of Central and South America, reflecting the spread of Spanish influence and colonization.
A notable historical figure with the surname Luna was Álvaro de Luna, a powerful Spanish nobleman and constable of Castile during the reign of King John II in the 15th century. He was a prominent political figure and military leader, but his ambition and influence eventually led to his downfall and execution in 1453.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Pedro de Luna, an Aragonese cardinal who became the Avignon Antipope Benedict XIII during the Western Schism in the early 15th century. His claims to the papacy were eventually rejected, but he remained a significant figure in the complex ecclesiastical politics of the time.
In the 19th century, Juan Luna y Novicio (1857-1899) was a renowned Filipino painter and sculptor, considered one of the most talented artists of his time in the Philippines. His works, including the famous "Spoliarium," earned him international acclaim and recognition.
In the realm of literature, Ana Luisa Amaral de Almeida Luna (1956-2022) was a prominent Portuguese poet and academic, renowned for her contributions to contemporary Portuguese poetry and her explorations of themes such as feminism, identity, and language.
The surname Luna has also been associated with various places, such as Luna County in New Mexico, United States, and the Luna River in Chile, reflecting the widespread distribution of the name across the Spanish-speaking world.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Luna
Among Census respondents with the surname Luna, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.8%. The next largest groups are White (8.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Luna bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Luna surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino88.8%
- White8.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
- Two or more races0.4%
- Black or African American0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Luna surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #378 | #298 | 21.2% |
| Count | 76,127 | 104,518 | 37.3% |
| Per 100K | 28.22 | 35.43 | 25.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Luna bearers went from 76,127 to 104,518 (+37.3% change). The surname moved up 80 positions in the national ranking, going from #378 to #298.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Luna
FAQ
Luna surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Luna?
The surname Luna holds position #298 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 121,438 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 35.43 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Luna surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Luna, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.8%. The next largest groups are White (8.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.