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

Pernia, 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 Pernia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pernia in America

Pernia is the 60505th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pernia surname appeared 333 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 Pernia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pernia 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 Pernia

The surname Pernia has its origins in Spain, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Basque word "perna," which means "rock" or "stone," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked with rocks or stones.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Pernia surname can be found in the archives of the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla in La Rioja, Spain, dating back to the 12th century. This document mentions a certain "Petrus de Pernia," indicating the presence of the surname in the region during that time.

The Pernia name is also closely associated with the northern Spanish region of Cantabria, where it is believed to have originated. Historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries mention various individuals bearing the Pernia surname in towns and villages throughout Cantabria, suggesting its widespread use in the area.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Juan de Pernia (c. 1520-1598) was a Spanish diplomat and humanist who served as the ambassador to the Holy Roman Empire during the reign of King Philip II. His writings and diplomatic endeavors contributed to the recognition of the Pernia name throughout Europe.

Another individual of historical significance was Pedro de Pernia (c. 1580-1645), a Spanish mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits. His work was widely recognized and influenced the development of astronomy in Spain during the 17th century.

Later, in the 18th century, Francisca de Pernia (1721-1798) was a renowned painter from Cantabria, known for her religious and portrait works. Her paintings can be found in various churches and collections throughout Spain, further cementing the Pernia name in the artistic realm.

The Pernia surname has also been closely associated with the town of Pernía, located in the municipality of Liendo, Cantabria. This place name is believed to be the origin of the surname and has been documented in historical records dating back to the 15th century.

While the Pernia surname has its roots in Spain, particularly in the northern regions of Cantabria and La Rioja, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange, carrying with it a rich historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pernia

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

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

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

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