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

Opena, 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 Opena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Opena in America

Opena is the 108734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Opena surname appeared 163 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 Opena.

We can also compare 2010 data for Opena 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 Opena

The surname OPENA has its origins in the Scandinavian regions of Europe, particularly in the areas that are now modern-day Sweden and Norway. It is believed to have emerged sometime during the 9th or 10th century, during the height of the Viking Age.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name OPENA can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of historical narratives that date back to the 13th century. These sagas recount tales of Norse explorers and settlers, and it is within these texts that the name OPENA appears, suggesting that it was in use among the Viking communities of that era.

The name OPENA is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word "opna," which means "to open" or "to reveal." This linguistic connection suggests that the surname may have originally been bestowed upon an individual who was known for their openness, honesty, or transparency.

In the 14th century, there are records of individuals bearing the surname OPENA in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of medieval Norwegian diplomatic documents. One notable individual mentioned in these records is Eirik OPENA, a Norwegian trader who lived in the city of Bergen around the year 1380.

As the centuries progressed, the name OPENA began to spread beyond its Scandinavian origins. In the 16th century, there are records of an Englishman named Thomas OPENA who was a merchant in the city of London. Another notable figure from this period was Hans OPENA, a German theologian and scholar who was born in Wittenberg in 1532 and played a role in the Protestant Reformation.

During the 17th century, the name OPENA gained a foothold in the Americas, with records indicating the presence of individuals bearing this surname among early colonial settlements. One such individual was Willem OPENA, a Dutch settler who arrived in New Amsterdam (modern-day New York) in the 1640s and is believed to be among the earliest bearers of the name in the New World.

In the 18th century, the name OPENA can be found in various historical records across Europe and the Americas. One notable figure was Johan OPENA, a Swedish botanist and explorer who accompanied the expeditions of Carl Linnaeus and contributed to the study of plant life in the Nordic regions.

As the centuries progressed, the name OPENA continued to spread and diversify, with bearers of the surname making their mark in various fields and professions. From military leaders and politicians to artists and scientists, the name OPENA has been carried by individuals who have left their imprint on history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Opena

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

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

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

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