Tene last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Tene

A Spanish surname derived from the Latin word "tenere", meaning "to hold" or "to possess".

Tene, 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 Tene surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tene in America

Tene is the 95955th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tene surname appeared 190 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 Tene.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tene 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 95955 119644 -21.98%
Count 190 134 34.57%
Proportion per 100k 0.06 0.05 18.18%

The history of the last name Tene

The surname TENE is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in the region of Castile. It is derived from the Spanish word "tener," which means "to have" or "to possess." This suggests that the name may have initially been bestowed upon individuals who were landowners or held significant possessions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the TENE surname can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrias, a historical document from the 13th century that catalogued the towns and villages of Castile and their respective landowners. The document mentions several individuals bearing the name TENE, indicating its presence in the region during that era.

In the 15th century, the TENE surname gained prominence with the rise of Juan de Tene, a renowned Spanish architect and sculptor. Born in 1460, he was responsible for designing and constructing several notable landmarks in Toledo, including the intricate stonework of the city's iconic Cathedral. His contributions to the architectural landscape of Spain cemented the TENE name in the annals of history.

Another notable figure bearing the TENE surname was Pedro de Tene, a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Mexico in the 16th century. Records from this period document his participation in various battles and expeditions, further solidifying the TENE name's association with Spanish exploration and colonization.

In the realm of literature, the Spanish author and playwright Luis de Tene gained recognition in the 17th century. Born in 1590, his comedic plays and satirical works were widely acclaimed during the Golden Age of Spanish theater. His witty commentary on societal norms and human nature earned him a place among the esteemed literary figures of his time.

Crossing the Atlantic, the TENE surname also found its way to the Americas during the colonial era. One notable figure was Sebastián de Tene, a Spanish settler who established a successful cattle ranch in what is now Argentina in the late 18th century. His descendants continued to carry the TENE name, contributing to the region's agricultural development over generations.

Throughout its history, the TENE surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, architects, conquistadors, writers, and ranchers. While its roots can be traced back to medieval Spain, the name has traveled far and wide, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of multiple regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tene

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

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 Tene was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 45.26% 86
Non-Hispanic Black Only 10.00% 19
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 42.63% 81

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 45.26% 52.24% -14.32%
Black 10.00% 5.22% 62.81%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.00% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% 6.72% (S)%
Hispanic 42.63% 35.82% 17.36%

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

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

Reference this page

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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!

"Tene last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/tene-surname-popularity/.

"Tene last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/tene-surname-popularity/. Accessed 2 May, 2025

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

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