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

Penacruz, 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 Penacruz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Penacruz in America

Penacruz is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Penacruz surname appeared 107 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 Penacruz.

The history of the last name Penacruz

The surname Penacruz originated in Spain during the medieval period, particularly in the regions of Galicia and Castile. It is believed to be derived from the combination of two Spanish words: "peña," meaning rock or cliff, and "cruz," meaning cross. This combination suggests a connection to a geographical location marked by a cross near a rocky or cliffy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Penacruz name can be found in the medieval Spanish manuscript "Codex de las Behetrias," dated around the 13th century. This document contains references to individuals with variations of the name, such as "Peña de Cruz" and "Peñacruz."

During the 15th century, the Penacruz name appeared in various historical records and documents from the Kingdom of Castile. Notable individuals from this period include Juan de Penacruz, a prominent military leader who participated in the Reconquista campaign against the Moors in the late 15th century.

As the Spanish Empire expanded its reach across the Americas, the Penacruz surname was carried to the New World by conquistadors and settlers. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in the Americas is that of Diego de Penacruz, a Spanish explorer who accompanied Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Penacruz family established itself in various regions of colonial Latin America, particularly in present-day Mexico and Peru. One notable figure was Bartolomé de Penacruz, a Jesuit missionary who worked among the indigenous populations of Peru during the mid-17th century.

Moving into the 18th century, the Penacruz name gained prominence in various fields, including literature and the arts. Juana de Penacruz, born in 1702, was a renowned Spanish playwright and poet whose works were widely celebrated during the Enlightenment period.

As the 19th century dawned, the Penacruz name continued to be associated with notable individuals across different disciplines. Miguel Penacruz, born in 1815, was a renowned Spanish architect who designed several iconic buildings in Madrid and Seville.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable individuals associated with the Penacruz surname throughout the centuries. The name's origins and evolution reflect the diverse cultural influences and geographical spread of the Spanish-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Penacruz

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

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

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

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