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

Peñahernández, 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 Peñahernández surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peñahernández in America

Peñahernández is the 125282nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peñahernández surname appeared 137 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 Peñahernández.

The history of the last name Peñahernández

The surname PENAHERNANDEZ has its origins in Spain, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is a compound surname, formed by the combination of two distinct surnames: "Pena" and "Hernandez."

The first part, "Pena," is believed to be derived from the Spanish word "peña," meaning "rock" or "cliff." This surname likely originated as a descriptive name, possibly referring to someone who lived near or worked with rocks or cliffs. Alternatively, it could have been a topographic name, referring to a specific place or region with rocky terrain.

The second part, "Hernandez," is a patronymic surname derived from the Spanish given name "Hernando," which is a variant of "Fernando." This name is rooted in the Germanic name "Ferdinandus," meaning "journey" or "adventurous." Patronymic surnames were commonly adopted in Spain during the Middle Ages, indicating lineage and familial connections.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PENAHERNANDEZ surname can be found in the 15th century, when a nobleman named Diego Pena Hernandez was mentioned in historical documents from the region of Castile. This suggests that the surname had already become established by that time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Juan Pena Hernandez was a renowned cartographer and navigator from Seville. He participated in several expeditions to the Americas and contributed to the mapping of the Caribbean and Central American regions.

During the 17th century, a notable individual named María Pena Hernandez made her mark as a skilled painter and artist in the city of Madrid. Her works were highly regarded and can still be found in various art collections throughout Spain.

In the 18th century, a notable military leader named Francisco Pena Hernandez played a significant role in the Spanish campaigns against the Ottoman Empire in the Mediterranean region. His strategic abilities and leadership were celebrated in contemporary accounts.

Another notable figure with the PENAHERNANDEZ surname was Ignacio Pena Hernandez, a prominent lawyer and jurist from Valencia who lived in the 19th century. He was instrumental in shaping legal reforms and played a crucial role in the development of Spanish jurisprudence during his time.

While the PENAHERNANDEZ surname has its roots in Spain, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly Latin America, due to Spanish colonization and migration patterns. However, its origins and early history can be traced back to the Iberian Peninsula, where it emerged as a distinctive surname during the Middle Ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peñahernández

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

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

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

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