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

Tena, 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 Tena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tena in America

Tena is the 9865th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tena surname appeared 3,279 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 Tena.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tena 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 Tena

The surname TENA has its origins in Spain, where it first emerged in the 14th century. It is derived from the Spanish word "tena," which means a large jar or vessel used for storing liquids such as wine or olive oil. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been involved in the production or trade of these commodities.

The name is thought to have originated in the region of Navarre, located in northern Spain near the Pyrenees mountains. Early records from this area show variations in the spelling, such as "Tenna" and "Tina," which were likely influenced by regional dialects.

One of the earliest documented references to the TENA surname can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrías de Castilla, a medieval census compiled in the 14th century during the reign of King Pedro I of Castile. This document lists several individuals with the surname, indicating their presence in various towns and villages throughout the region.

In the 15th century, the TENA surname appears in records related to the Reconquista, the centuries-long campaign to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Moorish rule. Several individuals bearing this name are listed among the soldiers and settlers who helped establish Christian control over territories previously held by the Moors.

One notable figure from this period was Juan de TENA, a military commander who participated in the conquest of Granada in 1492, marking the end of the Reconquista. He was born in the town of Tafalla, Navarre, around 1450 and served under the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella.

Another prominent individual with the TENA surname was Pedro de TENA, a 16th-century scholar and theologian from Saragossa, Aragon. He authored several works on religious subjects and was renowned for his expertise in canon law.

In the 17th century, the TENA surname spread to the Spanish colonies in the Americas, particularly Mexico and Peru. One notable figure from this era was Diego de TENA, a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to Mexico in the 1520s.

Moving into the 18th century, a notable individual was Tomás de TENA, a Spanish navigator and explorer who led several expeditions to the Pacific Ocean and helped map out new trade routes for the Spanish empire.

Throughout the 19th century, the TENA surname continued to be present in various parts of Spain, as well as in Spanish-speaking regions of the Americas. One notable individual from this period was Manuel de TENA, a Mexican politician and diplomat who served as the ambassador to the United States in the 1860s.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tena

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

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

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

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