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

Peñera, 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 Peñera surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peñera in America

Peñera is the 104156th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peñera surname appeared 172 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 Peñera.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peñera 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 Peñera

The surname PENERA is believed to have originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "pena," which means "rock" or "cliff," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a rocky or mountainous area.

The earliest recorded instances of the PENERA surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various Spanish documents and records. One notable example is a mention of a certain Juan de Penera in a land deed from the city of Valencia, dated 1275.

In the 14th century, the PENERA name appears in various municipal records from the region of Catalonia, particularly in the areas around the town of Penedès, which shares a similar root with the surname. This suggests a possible connection between the surname and the geographic location.

During the 15th century, the PENERA surname gained prominence with the rise of several notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was Diego de Penera, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493.

Another notable individual with the PENERA surname was María de Penera, a Spanish noblewoman and patron of the arts, who lived during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. She is known for commissioning several works of art and architecture in her hometown of Seville.

In the 17th century, the PENERA name appears in various historical records and documents from Spain and its colonies in the Americas. One significant bearer of the name was Pedro de Penera, a Spanish soldier and explorer who participated in the conquest of Mexico and later served as a colonial administrator in New Spain (present-day Mexico).

Throughout history, several other individuals with the PENERA surname have made notable contributions in various fields, such as literature, art, and politics. For example, Juana de Penera was a renowned Spanish poet and playwright of the 16th century, while Miguel de Penera was a influential political figure and diplomat in the court of King Philip IV during the 17th century.

Overall, the PENERA surname has a rich history deeply rooted in Spain's past, with connections to various regions, historical figures, and cultural influences. Its origins can be traced back to the medieval era, and it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and exploration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peñera

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

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

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

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