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

Valencia, 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 Valencia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Valencia in America

Valencia is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Valencia surname appeared 101 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 Valencia.

The history of the last name Valencia

The surname VELENCIA originates from Spain, with its roots traced back to the Valencia region of the country. It is believed to have emerged during the 11th century, derived from the Latin word "Valentia," which translates to "strength" or "courage." The name is closely associated with the city of Valencia, one of the oldest and most historically significant cities in Spain.

During the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, which lasted from the 8th to the 15th century, the city of Valencia held great strategic importance. The name VELENCIA likely evolved as a way to identify individuals who hailed from or had ties to this prominent city. Historical records from this era, such as the Codex Calixtinus, a 12th-century manuscript, contain references to individuals bearing the surname VELENCIA.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name VELENCIA can be found in the Libro del Repartimiento, a manuscript dating back to the 13th century. This document recorded the distribution of lands and property in the newly reconquered Kingdom of Valencia after the Moors were expelled. Several individuals with the surname VELENCIA were listed as recipients of these land grants.

Over the centuries, the name VELENCIA has been associated with various notable figures. One such individual was Juan de Velencia, a renowned cartographer and navigator who played a significant role in the Age of Exploration during the 15th century. His precise birth and death dates are unknown, but his contributions to early mapmaking and navigation were instrumental in shaping the course of history.

Another notable bearer of the VELENCIA surname was Alonso de Velencia, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés in the early 16th century. Alonso de Velencia was born around 1490 and died in the mid-1500s, leaving a lasting legacy as one of the key figures in the Spanish colonization of the Americas.

In the realm of literature, the name VELENCIA is associated with Miguel de Velencia, a 17th-century Spanish poet and dramatist. Born in 1610, Miguel de Velencia was renowned for his contributions to the Spanish Golden Age of literature, and his works continue to be studied and appreciated to this day.

The surname VELENCIA has also been linked to various place names throughout Spain, particularly in the Valencia region. For example, the town of Velencia de Alcántara, located in the province of Cáceres, bears a striking resemblance to the surname. This connection further solidifies the name's ties to the region and its historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Valencia

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

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

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

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