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

Panela, 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 Panela surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Panela in America

Panela is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Panela surname appeared 121 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 Panela.

The history of the last name Panela

The surname PANELA is of Spanish origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval era in the Iberian Peninsula. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "panela," which refers to a type of unrefined whole cane sugar. This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals involved in the production or trade of this sweetener.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PANELA surname can be found in the Catalan region of Spain during the 13th century. Historical documents from that period mention individuals bearing variations of the name, such as "Panella" and "Panela," indicating the potential regional differences in spelling and pronunciation.

In the town of Vilafranca del Penedès, located in the province of Barcelona, a family by the name of PANELA is documented as having resided there since the late 15th century. This family was prominent in the local agricultural community, and their connection to the sugar industry may have contributed to the adoption of their surname.

During the Age of Exploration, the PANELA name spread beyond the borders of Spain as individuals with this surname participated in voyages and colonization efforts across the Americas. Notably, Francisco PANELA, a navigator born in Seville in 1521, accompanied the expedition of Pedro de Valdivia to Chile in the mid-16th century.

The PANELA surname also found its way to Mexico, where it gained prominence in the state of Veracruz. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name in the region was Juan PANELA, a landowner and farmer who lived in the town of Orizaba in the late 17th century.

In the realm of literature, the PANELA surname is associated with the Spanish writer and poet Ramón PANELA (1832-1902), who hailed from Valencia. His works, which often explored themes of rural life and traditions, earned him recognition during the Romantic literary movement in Spain.

Other notable individuals with the PANELA surname include:

1. María PANELA (1875-1941), a renowned Spanish opera singer who performed in prestigious venues across Europe in the early 20th century.

2. Tomás PANELA (1892-1968), a Mexican politician and diplomat who served as the ambassador to several countries, including the United States and France.

3. Javier PANELA (1920-2003), a Spanish architect renowned for his contributions to the modernist movement in architecture, particularly his designs for residential and commercial buildings in Barcelona.

4. Claudia PANELA (born 1972), a Colombian artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout Latin America.

5. Enrique PANELA (born 1985), a Spanish professional tennis player who achieved a career-high ranking of 37 in the ATP singles rankings.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Panela

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

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

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

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