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

Peniche, 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 Peniche surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peniche in America

Peniche is the 59470th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peniche surname appeared 340 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 Peniche.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peniche 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 Peniche

The surname Peniche originates from Portugal, and it can be traced back to the 15th century. The name is derived from the Portuguese town of Peniche, which is situated on a peninsula near the Atlantic Ocean. The town's name is believed to have originated from the Latin word "paeninsula," meaning "almost an island."

Peniche was an important strategic location during the Age of Discovery, and it played a significant role in Portugal's maritime history. The town's fortifications were constructed in the 16th century to protect the coast from invading forces. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Peniche can be found in documents related to the town's military and naval activities.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Peniche was João Peniche (c. 1450-1515), a Portuguese navigator and explorer who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India in 1497-1499. João Peniche was responsible for navigating the fleet through treacherous waters and is credited with contributing to the success of the expedition.

Another prominent figure with the surname Peniche was Álvaro Peniche (1570-1635), a Portuguese soldier and military engineer. He was involved in the construction of several fortifications in Portugal and its overseas territories, including the Fortaleza de Peniche, which was named after the town.

In the 17th century, a Portuguese nobleman named Manuel Peniche (1625-1698) was appointed as the Governor of the Portuguese colony of Goa in India. He is remembered for his efforts in strengthening the colony's defenses and promoting trade with other European powers in the region.

During the 18th century, a renowned Portuguese architect named José Peniche (1715-1789) designed several notable buildings in Lisbon, including the Basilica da Estrela and the Ajuda Palace. His architectural style was influenced by the Baroque and Neoclassical movements, and his works are considered significant contributions to Portugal's cultural heritage.

In the 19th century, a Portuguese writer and journalist named António Peniche (1825-1892) gained recognition for his literary works, which often focused on social and political issues of the time. He was a vocal advocate for freedom of the press and played a role in the liberal movements of the era.

The surname Peniche has been associated with the town of the same name for centuries, and it has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including exploration, military engineering, governance, architecture, and literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peniche

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

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

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

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