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

Sopeña, 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 Sopeña surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sopeña in America

Sopeña is the 149395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sopeña surname appeared 110 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 Sopeña.

The history of the last name Sopeña

The surname Sopena has its origins in Spain, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "sopa," meaning soup or broth, and the suffix "-ena," which is often used to indicate a place name. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a soup kitchen or a place where soup was served.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sopena can be found in a medieval Spanish manuscript from the year 1187, which mentions a person named Alfonso Sopena. This document, now housed in the National Library of Spain, provides valuable insight into the historical use of this surname.

In the late 13th century, a small village in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, was known as "Sopenilla," which is believed to be a diminutive form of the word "Sopena." This place name may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

During the 15th century, a notable figure bearing the name Sopena was Juan Sopena, a renowned scholar and theologian who served as a professor at the University of Salamanca. He was born in 1412 and passed away in 1489, leaving behind a legacy of influential writings on theology and philosophy.

In the 16th century, another individual named Gaspar Sopena gained recognition as a skilled cartographer and mapmaker. He was responsible for creating detailed maps of various regions in Spain, which were widely used during that time period.

Moving into the 17th century, a prominent member of the Sopena family was Pedro Sopena, a successful merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Valencia. Records from that era indicate that he was involved in trade with other Mediterranean countries and accumulated significant wealth.

Throughout the centuries, the Sopena surname has been carried by numerous individuals who have left their mark in various fields, including the arts, literature, and politics. While some of these historical figures may not be widely known today, their contributions have helped shape the cultural and social landscape of Spain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sopeña

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

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 Sopeña 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.

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

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

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