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

Peneda, 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 Peneda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peneda in America

Peneda is the 84748th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peneda surname appeared 221 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 Peneda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peneda 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 Peneda

The surname Peneda has its origins in Portugal, specifically in the northern region of the country. It is believed to have derived from a Portuguese place name, possibly referring to a town or village called Peneda. The name itself is thought to have its roots in the Latin word "penna," meaning feather or plume, which may have been used to describe the topography or natural features of the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Peneda can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various historical documents and records from the region. During this time, surnames were becoming more common as a way to distinguish individuals from different families or locations.

In the 15th century, there are references to a noble family bearing the name Peneda, who were landowners and held influential positions in the region. Some records suggest that the family may have played a role in the Portuguese Age of Discovery, with members potentially accompanying explorers on voyages to the newly discovered territories.

One notable figure with the surname Peneda was João Peneda, a scholar and theologian who lived in the 16th century. He was renowned for his contributions to the field of religious studies and served as a professor at the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Portugal.

Another individual of note was Antónia Peneda, a 17th-century noblewoman and philanthropist. She was known for her charitable works and established several educational institutions and orphanages throughout the region, leaving a lasting legacy in the area of social welfare.

In the 18th century, the surname Peneda was associated with a prominent military family, with several members serving as officers in the Portuguese army. One such individual was Manuel Peneda, who fought in the Peninsular War against the French forces of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Towards the 19th century, the name Peneda gained recognition in the literary world, with the emergence of a renowned poet and writer named Francisco Peneda. His works, which often explored themes of love, nature, and the beauty of the Portuguese countryside, were widely acclaimed and contributed to the country's cultural heritage.

While the surname Peneda has its roots in Portugal, it is also found in other parts of the world, likely due to migration and the spread of Portuguese influence during the Age of Exploration and colonial periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peneda

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

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

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

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