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

Tenemaza, 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 Tenemaza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tenemaza in America

Tenemaza is the 107669th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tenemaza surname appeared 165 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 Tenemaza.

The history of the last name Tenemaza

The surname Tenemaza has its origins in the Basque region of northern Spain and southwestern France, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Basque words "tene," meaning "place" or "location," and "maza," which refers to an oak tree or a wooded area. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with a specific location or settlement near an oak forest or wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tenemaza can be found in a 13th-century manuscript detailing land ownership in the Basque region. This document mentions a family with the surname Tenemaza as landowners in the village of Ainhoa, located in the province of Labourd, which is now part of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in France.

The name Tenemaza has also been linked to the historical region of Navarre, which spans parts of modern-day Spain and France. In the 15th century, a nobleman named Juan de Tenemaza was recorded as serving in the court of King Charles III of Navarre. Additionally, a village called Tenemaza existed in the region of Navarre during the 16th century, further cementing the name's ties to this area.

Notable individuals with the surname Tenemaza include Miguel de Tenemaza, a 17th-century Basque writer and historian who documented the cultural traditions and folklore of the Basque people. Another prominent figure was Mariana de Tenemaza, a 16th-century noblewoman from Navarre who was known for her philanthropic efforts and support of local churches and monasteries.

In the 18th century, a family with the surname Tenemaza settled in the city of San Sebastián, in the Basque Country of Spain. One of their descendants, Ignacio Tenemaza, born in 1782, became a renowned navigator and explorer, participating in several expeditions to the Americas and the Pacific Islands.

Another notable individual was Juana Tenemaza, born in 1835 in the village of Ainhoa, who gained recognition as a skilled weaver and was instrumental in preserving traditional Basque textile arts and techniques.

While the surname Tenemaza is not as common today as it once was, it remains an important part of Basque cultural heritage and history, with its roots deeply embedded in the landscapes and communities of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tenemaza

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

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

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

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