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

Peñalo, 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 Peñalo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peñalo in America

Peñalo is the 85049th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peñalo surname appeared 220 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 Peñalo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peñalo 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 Peñalo

The surname PENALO has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Spain and Portugal, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "paenula," which referred to a type of hooded cloak or cape worn in ancient times.

During the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, the Latin language and culture had a profound influence on the local population. The word "paenula" may have been adopted and eventually evolved into the surname PENALO, potentially signifying an association with the trade or production of these cloaks.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PENALO surname can be found in the "Libro de la Nobleza" (Book of Nobility), a medieval Spanish manuscript from the 14th century. This document mentions a certain Gonzalo PENALO, a nobleman and landowner from the region of Castile.

In the 15th century, historical records reveal the presence of a prominent family bearing the PENALO surname in the city of Seville, Andalusia. One notable member was Juan PENALO (1432-1498), a successful merchant and trader who established several trading outposts along the Mediterranean coast.

As the Spanish Empire expanded in the 16th century, the PENALO name spread to the Americas through the process of colonization. One of the earliest documented instances of the surname in the New World is that of Diego PENALO (1523-1587), a conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru under Francisco Pizarro.

Another significant figure in the history of the PENALO surname was María PENALO (1674-1742), a renowned painter from the city of Valencia. Her works, which often depicted religious scenes and portraits, are still exhibited in several museums across Spain.

During the 18th century, the PENALO surname gained prominence in the field of literature. Javier PENALO (1712-1778), a poet and playwright from Madrid, was celebrated for his contributions to the Spanish Golden Age of literature.

As the centuries passed, the PENALO surname continued to be found throughout Spain and its territories, with descendants spreading to various parts of the world through migration and exploration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peñalo

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

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

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

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