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

Ponce, 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 Ponce surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ponce in America

Ponce is the 695th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ponce surname appeared 49,549 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 17 people would have the surname Ponce.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ponce 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 Ponce

The surname Ponce has its origins in Spain, specifically in the region of Andalusia, where it first emerged in the medieval period. The name is derived from the Latin word "Pontius," which is believed to have originated from the Roman family name Pontius. This name was then transformed into the Spanish form "Ponce" over time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ponce can be found in the 12th century, when a nobleman named Ponce de Cabrera was mentioned in various historical documents. He was a prominent figure during the Reconquista, the period when Christian kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula sought to reclaim territories from the Moors.

The name Ponce gained further prominence in the 15th century with the explorer Juan Ponce de León (1460-1521), who is credited with leading the first European expedition to present-day Florida. He is also known for his futile search for the mythical Fountain of Youth, which was believed to have restorative powers and the ability to grant eternal youth.

Another notable figure with the surname Ponce was Pedro Ponce de León (1520-1584), a Spanish Benedictine monk who is widely regarded as the first teacher of the deaf. He developed an innovative method for teaching deaf individuals to read, write, and communicate effectively, paving the way for significant advancements in deaf education.

In the 17th century, the name Ponce was associated with the Spanish playwright and poet Juan Bautista Diamante Ponce (1625-1687), who was celebrated for his works in the Golden Age of Spanish literature. His plays and poems were widely acclaimed and performed during his lifetime.

The surname Ponce is also linked to various place names in Spain, such as Ponce de León, a municipality in the province of Seville, and Ponce de Valderas, a town in the province of León. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the Ponce surname who had historical connections to those locations.

Throughout history, the surname Ponce has been carried by numerous individuals of notable achievement, spanning various fields including exploration, education, literature, and beyond. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval Spain, its influence has extended far beyond its birthplace, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ponce

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

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

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

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