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

Mascarena, 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 Mascarena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mascarena in America

Mascarena is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mascarena surname appeared 115 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 Mascarena.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mascarena 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 Mascarena

The surname Mascarena has its roots in the Spanish language, originating from the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. It is believed to derive from the word "máscara," meaning "mask" or "disguise," potentially indicating an ancestral connection to individuals involved in theatrical performances or masquerades.

The earliest documented instances of the surname Mascarena can be traced back to the 14th century, appearing in various records and manuscripts from the regions of Andalusia and Castile in Spain. Similar spellings, such as Mascarenas and Mascarenas, were also prevalent during this period.

One notable historical reference to the Mascarena name can be found in the "Libro de la Montería" (Book of the Hunt), a 14th-century manuscript commissioned by King Alfonso XI of Castile. This document mentions a certain "Juan Mascarena," who was involved in the royal hunting expeditions of the era.

During the 15th century, the name Mascarena gained prominence in the region of Extremadura, where it was associated with several prominent families. One such figure was Álvaro Mascarena, born in 1462, who served as a military commander under King Ferdinand II of Aragon during the Reconquista.

As the Spanish Empire expanded its reach across the Atlantic, the Mascarena surname was carried to the New World. In the 16th century, Pedro Mascarena, born in 1523, was among the early Spanish settlers in the Caribbean, establishing roots in the island of Puerto Rico.

Another notable individual bearing the Mascarena surname was Juana Mascarena, a 17th-century playwright and poet from Seville, Spain. Her works, including the play "El Amor Constante" (The Constant Love), gained recognition during the Spanish Golden Age of literature.

In the 18th century, the Mascarena name found its way to the Philippines, where Juan Mascarena, born in 1712, served as a colonial administrator and played a role in the establishment of Spanish settlements in the archipelago.

Throughout its history, the surname Mascarena has been associated with various professions, including the military, arts, literature, and administration, reflecting the diverse contributions of its bearers across different eras and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mascarena

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

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

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

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