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

Valen, 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 Valen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Valen in America

Valen is the 54864th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Valen surname appeared 375 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 Valen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Valen 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 Valen

The surname VALEN originated in Spain and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "valens," meaning "strong" or "vigorous." The name was likely first adopted by individuals who possessed these qualities or resided in areas known for their strength or resilience.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname VALEN can be found in the Libro de la Behetría de Castilla, a medieval Spanish document from the 14th century. This manuscript lists several individuals with the surname, suggesting its widespread use in Castile during that period.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various historical records, including the Libro de Repartimiento de Sevilla, a document detailing the distribution of land and properties in the city of Seville after its reconquest from the Moors. This indicates that the VALEN surname had spread to southern Spain by that time.

The earliest known bearer of the surname VALEN was Juan VALEN, a prominent military leader born in Zaragoza in 1412. He played a crucial role in the Reconquista, the campaign to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Moorish rule. Juan VALEN's bravery and leadership earned him recognition from the Spanish monarchs of the time.

Another notable figure with the VALEN surname was María VALEN (1520-1588), a renowned scholar and writer from Valencia. Her works on literature and philosophy were highly regarded in her time and contributed to the intellectual discourse of the Renaissance period in Spain.

In the 17th century, Pedro VALEN (1601-1671), a Spanish explorer and navigator, led several expeditions to the New World. He was instrumental in mapping the Pacific coast of Central America and established several settlements in what is now Panama and Costa Rica.

During the 18th century, the VALEN surname gained prominence in the arts, with the painter Francisco VALEN (1712-1789) becoming one of the most celebrated artists of the Spanish Baroque period. His works, particularly his religious paintings and portraits, adorned numerous churches and palaces across Spain.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Emilio VALEN (1845-1912), a influential Spanish politician and diplomat. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and played a pivotal role in shaping Spain's international relations during a period of significant global change.

While the VALEN surname originated in Spain, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including Latin America, where descendants of Spanish settlers have carried on the name. However, the rich history and legacy of this surname remain deeply rooted in its Spanish origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Valen

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

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

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

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