Find out how popular the last name Ponce de León 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 de León.

Ponce de León, 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 de León surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ponce de León in America

Ponce de León is the 16509th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ponce de León surname appeared 1,740 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ponce de León.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ponce de León 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 de León

The surname Poncedeleon has its origins in Spain, dating back to the 15th century. It is a compound name derived from the Spanish words "ponce" and "de leon," with "ponce" meaning "lion" and "de leon" meaning "from Leon." This suggests that the name may have originated from the region of Leon, a province located in northwestern Spain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Poncedeleon can be found in historical documents from the city of Seville, where a family bearing this surname was mentioned in the 16th century. It is believed that this family may have been of noble descent, as the use of compound surnames was often associated with nobility or aristocracy during that period.

The name Poncedeleon has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. In the 17th century, Juan Poncedeleon was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who led expeditions in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico regions. He is particularly known for his search for the mythical Fountain of Youth, which he sought in present-day Florida.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Pedro Poncedeleon, a Spanish military officer and governor of Florida in the late 18th century. He played a significant role in the defense of the Spanish territories against British and Native American forces during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, Miguel Poncedeleon was a renowned Spanish painter and artist, known for his portraits and landscapes. His works are displayed in various museums and galleries throughout Spain and Europe.

During the early 20th century, Antonio Poncedeleon was a Spanish writer and poet who contributed to the literary movement known as the Generation of '98. His works often explored themes of Spanish identity and the country's cultural heritage.

The surname Poncedeleon has also been associated with various place names and geographical locations in Spain. For instance, there is a municipality called Poncedeleon in the province of Salamanca, which may have derived its name from an early resident or landowner bearing this surname.

Overall, the surname Poncedeleon has a rich history rooted in Spain, with connections to nobility, exploration, military service, art, and literature. Its origins can be traced back to the 15th century, and it has been carried by notable individuals throughout various periods of Spanish history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ponce de León

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

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 de León 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 de León 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 de León 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 de León, please contact us.

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