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

Magaña, 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 Magaña surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Magaña in America

Magaña is the 888th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Magaña surname appeared 39,105 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 13 people would have the surname Magaña.

We can also compare 2010 data for Magaña to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Magaña

The surname Magana originated from the Iberian Peninsula, specifically from the regions of Spain and Portugal, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "maganar," which means "to acquire or to gain." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was successful in acquiring wealth or property.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Magana can be found in the Libro de Repartimiento de Sevilla, a historical document that dates back to the 13th century. This record contains the names of individuals who were granted lands and properties in the city of Seville after it was conquered by the Christians in 1248.

In the 14th century, the name Magana appeared in the Catastro de Ensenada, a census-like document that recorded the population and economic activities of various regions in Spain. This suggests that the surname was well-established and widely distributed throughout the country during that time.

One notable individual with the surname Magana was Juan Magana, a Spanish explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in the early 16th century. Magana played a significant role in the conquest of the Aztec Empire and was rewarded with land grants in the newly conquered territories.

Another prominent figure was Gaspar de Magana, a Spanish military commander who served under King Philip II in the late 16th century. He participated in several campaigns against the Ottoman Empire and was renowned for his bravery and strategic skills.

In the 17th century, the surname Magana was associated with the town of Maganar, located in the province of Zamora, Spain. This town may have served as the origin or inspiration for the surname, as it was a common practice to derive surnames from place names during that era.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Magana was José Magana y Campuzano, a Spanish painter and engraver who lived in the late 18th century. His works were highly regarded, and he was known for his intricate engravings and portraits.

In the 19th century, the surname Magana spread to other parts of the world, including the Americas, due to Spanish colonization and migration. Notable individuals from this period include Mariano Magana, a Chilean politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Chilean Congress in the mid-1800s.

Throughout history, the surname Magana has been associated with various influential individuals, reflecting its deep roots in the Iberian Peninsula and its subsequent spread to other regions as a result of Spanish exploration and colonization.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Magaña

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

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 Magaña 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Magaña has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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

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

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