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

Spena, 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 Spena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Spena in America

Spena is the 112568th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spena surname appeared 156 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 Spena.

We can also compare 2010 data for Spena 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 Spena

The surname Spena is of Italian origin, deriving from the region of Campania, located in southern Italy. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

One theory suggests that Spena is derived from the Latin word "spina," meaning "thorn" or "prickly plant." This could indicate that the name's earliest bearers were associated with thorny bushes or shrubs, perhaps as farmers or horticulturists. Another possibility is that the name originated as a topographic reference, describing a place with abundant thorny vegetation.

In the 14th century, records show a Nicola Spena documented in the city of Naples, which may be one of the earliest known instances of the surname. During the Renaissance period, the Spena family gained prominence in the city of Salerno, with several notable individuals bearing the name.

One such individual was Girolamo Spena, a renowned jurist and legal scholar who lived in the late 15th century. His writings on civil law and jurisprudence were highly influential during his time. Another notable figure was Giulio Spena, a 16th-century physician and author who wrote extensively on medical topics.

In the 17th century, the Spena surname appeared in various records from the town of Vico Equense, located on the Amalfi Coast. One notable individual from this era was Giuseppe Spena, a skilled architect who contributed to the design of several churches and public buildings in the region.

Moving into the 18th century, a prominent member of the Spena family was Antonio Spena, a successful merchant and philanthropist from Naples. He founded a charitable organization that provided assistance to the poor and funded educational initiatives.

Another individual of note was Vincenzo Spena, a 19th-century poet and playwright from the town of Capaccio Paestum. His works often celebrated the beauty of the Campania region and its rich cultural heritage.

While the surname Spena is predominantly found in Italy, particularly in the regions of Campania, Puglia, and Calabria, it has also spread to other parts of the world through immigration. However, its roots can be traced back to the historic regions of southern Italy, where it has left a lasting mark on the cultural and historical fabric of the area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Spena

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

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

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

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