Solana last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Solana

A surname derived from the Spanish word meaning "sunny place" or "open ground".

Solana, 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 Solana surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Solana in America

Solana is the 34223rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Solana surname appeared 663 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 Solana.

We can also compare 2010 data for Solana 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 34223 38706 -12.29%
Count 663 537 21.00%
Proportion per 100k 0.22 0.20 9.52%

The history of the last name Solana

The surname Solana is of Spanish origin, derived from the Latin word "solana," meaning "sunny place" or "place exposed to the sun." This name likely originated in regions of Spain known for their abundant sunshine and warm climate.

The earliest records of the Solana surname can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of Spain, particularly in the areas of Aragon, Catalonia, and Valencia. It is believed that the name was initially used as a topographic descriptor, referring to individuals who lived in sunny or exposed areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Solana surname can be found in the "Libro de la Cadena" (Book of the Chain), a historical document from the city of Jaca in Aragon, dating back to the year 1238. This document mentions several individuals with the surname Solana, suggesting that the name was already well-established in the region at that time.

In the 14th century, the Solana surname appeared in various manuscripts and records in the Kingdom of Valencia, indicating its presence in the eastern part of Spain. One notable individual from this period was Guillem Solana, a merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Valencia in the late 1300s.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Solana surname continued to spread throughout Spain, and several notable individuals bore this name. One such person was Diego de Solana, a Catholic priest and writer who lived in Seville in the early 16th century and authored a book on the life of Saint Teresa of Avila.

In the 17th century, the Solana surname gained prominence in the arts and literature. Pedro Solana y Quesada (1648-1711) was a renowned Spanish painter and engraver, known for his religious works and portraits. Additionally, Juan de Solana (1670-1728) was a Spanish playwright and poet active in Madrid during the Golden Age of Spanish literature.

The 18th century saw the Solana surname expand beyond Spain's borders. One notable figure was Andrés de Solana (1736-1806), a Spanish military officer who served in various campaigns during the American Revolutionary War and later became the Governor of Puerto Rico.

As the Solana surname spread throughout the Spanish-speaking world, it also took on various place name variations, such as Solanilla, Solanilla del Extremo, and Solano, reflecting the diverse regions where individuals with this surname settled.

Throughout history, the Solana surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, religious figures, military leaders, and merchants. While this summary provides an overview of the name's origins and historical significance, it is important to note that many other notable individuals bearing the Solana surname have contributed to the rich tapestry of Spanish and global history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Solana

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

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 Solana was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 37.56% 249
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 8.90% 59
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.75% 5
Hispanic Origin 51.73% 343

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 Solana has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 37.56% 44.13% -16.09%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 8.90% 5.77% 42.67%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 1.49% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.75% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 51.73% 46.93% 9.73%

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Solana last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 27, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/solana-surname-popularity/.

"Solana last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/solana-surname-popularity/. Accessed 27 May, 2025

Solana last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/solana-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.