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

Pineda, 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 Pineda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pineda in America

Pineda is the 553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pineda surname appeared 60,820 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 21 people would have the surname Pineda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pineda 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 Pineda

The surname Pineda originated in Spain and has its roots dating back to the 8th century. It is thought to be derived from the Spanish word "pinar," which means a pine grove or forest. This suggests that the name may have originated as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near or worked in a pine forest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pineda can be found in the Codex Calixtinus, a 12th-century medieval manuscript that served as a guide for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. The document mentions a place called "Villa Pineda," which is believed to be the origin of the surname.

During the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors, the name Pineda gained prominence. Several individuals with this surname played significant roles in the military campaigns and subsequent repopulation efforts.

One notable figure from this period was Fernán Pérez de Pineda, a 13th-century nobleman and military commander who fought alongside King Ferdinand III of Castile. Pérez de Pineda was awarded lands and titles for his contributions to the Reconquista.

In the 15th century, the surname Pineda appeared in the records of the Spanish Inquisition. One such instance was the trial of Juan de Pineda, a converso (a converted Jew) who was accused of secretly practicing Judaism. His case shed light on the persecution faced by conversos during that period.

The name Pineda has also been associated with several prominent individuals throughout history. Pedro de Pineda, a 16th-century Spanish explorer, led expeditions to the Gulf of Mexico and the coast of present-day Texas. His contributions to early Spanish exploration and cartography were significant.

Another notable figure was Juan de Pineda Salazar, a 17th-century Spanish theologian and author. His work "Monarquía Eclesiástica" was a comprehensive study of the Catholic Church and its history.

In the realm of literature, Nicolás Fernández de Moratín, a 18th-century Spanish playwright and poet, was also known by the surname Pineda. His comedies and satirical works were influential during the Age of Enlightenment in Spain.

The surname Pineda has also been associated with various place names throughout Spain, such as Pineda de Mar, a coastal town in Catalonia, and Pineda de la Sierra, a municipality in the province of Burgos.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pineda

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

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

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

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