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

Valena, 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 Valena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Valena in America

Valena is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Valena surname appeared 105 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 Valena.

We can also compare 2010 data for Valena 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 Valena

The surname Valena has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Spain and Portugal. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

One theory suggests that the name Valena is derived from the Latin word "valena," which means "strong" or "vigorous." This implies that the name may have been initially given to individuals who possessed these qualities or exhibited great physical strength.

Another possible origin of the name Valena is its connection to the Spanish town of Valencia. During the Middle Ages, it was common for people to adopt surnames based on the place they lived or were born. The town of Valencia, located on the eastern coast of Spain, was an important trade center and may have influenced the name's development.

In the 14th century, a document known as the "Libro de la Nobleza y Blasones de España" (Book of Nobility and Coats of Arms of Spain) mentions a nobleman named Rodrigo de Valena, who lived during the reign of King Alfonso XI of Castile (1312-1350). This is one of the earliest recorded instances of the Valena surname.

Another notable figure bearing the Valena surname was Pedro de Valena, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. He later became one of the first European settlers in the Caribbean region.

In the 16th century, a Portuguese family with the surname Valena gained prominence in the city of Évora. One member, Manuel Valena (1540-1612), was a renowned architect who designed several churches and other notable buildings in the region.

During the 17th century, the Valena name appeared in various parts of Spain and Portugal. One individual of note was Juana Valena (1625-1704), a Spanish painter who specialized in religious artwork and was known for her detailed portraiture.

In the 18th century, the Valena surname found its way to the Americas, particularly in the Spanish colonies. One notable figure was Francisco Valena (1732-1801), a Spanish soldier and explorer who played a significant role in the colonization of California.

These are just a few examples of individuals bearing the Valena surname throughout history, highlighting its origins and dispersal across the Iberian Peninsula and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Valena

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

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

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

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