2000
#14,038
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,970
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.73
Rare Last name
Vences
A Spanish surname derived from the place name Vences, referring to someone from that locality in Galicia, Spain.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,678 Americans carry the last name Vences. That puts it at #9,666 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 93,190 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Vences surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
3.7K
1 in 93,190
Census rank
#9,666
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,207 bearers of the surname Vences in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 9666th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Vences, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 96.7%. The next largest groups are White (2.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Vences
The surname VENCES is of Spanish origin, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Spain, particularly in the regions of Asturias and Cantabria. The name is derived from the Latin word "vincere," which means "to conquer" or "to overcome," suggesting a possible connection to military or noble ancestry.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the VENCES surname can be found in the "Becerro de las Behetrías" (Register of Lordships), a medieval Spanish document from the 14th century. This document contains references to individuals bearing the surname, indicating their presence in certain areas of Spain during that time.
In the 15th century, the VENCES surname appears in historical records related to the Spanish conquest of the Canary Islands. Juan de Vences, born around 1420, was a prominent figure involved in the conquest and colonization of these islands. His contributions were recognized, and his descendants continued to carry the surname.
During the 16th century, the VENCES surname gained prominence in the region of Asturias. Álvaro de Vences, born in 1532, was a notable scholar and author from the city of Oviedo. His work, "Tratado de la Provincia de Asturias" (Treatise on the Province of Asturias), published in 1588, provides valuable insights into the history and culture of the region.
In the 17th century, the VENCES surname can be found in records related to the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Fernán de Vences, born in 1610, was a soldier and explorer who participated in various expeditions to the New World, contributing to the expansion of the Spanish Empire.
Another notable figure with the VENCES surname was María de Vences, born in 1675. She was a prominent philanthropist and patron of the arts in the city of Madrid, supporting various cultural and charitable initiatives during her lifetime.
Throughout history, the VENCES surname has been associated with various place names and villages in Spain, such as Vences (Asturias), Vences (Cantabria), and Vences (Castilla-La Mancha). These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time.
While the VENCES surname has experienced some variations in spelling, such as Vences, Venzes, and Venzas, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period in northern Spain, reflecting a rich history and heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Vences
Among Census respondents with the surname Vences, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 96.7%. The next largest groups are White (2.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Vences bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Vences surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino96.7% · 3,102
- White2.7% · 86
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.2% · 6
- Black or African American0.2% · 5
- Two or more races0.2% · 5
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Vences
Vences appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#9,375
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,470
+1,500 bearers (+76.1%)
Per 100,000 1.18
Rank movement Up 4,663 places
2020
#9,666
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,207
-263 bearers (-7.6%)
Per 100,000 1.07
Rank movement Down 291 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #14,038 | 1,970 | 0.73 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #9,375 | 3,470 | 1.18 | +1,500 bearers (+76.1%) | Up 4,663 places |
| 2020 | #9,666 | 3,207 | 1.07 | -263 bearers (-7.6%) | Down 291 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Vences surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #9,375 | #9,666 | -3.1% |
| Count | 3,470 | 3,207 | -7.6% |
| Per 100K | 1.18 | 1.07 | -9.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Vences bearers went from 3,470 to 3,207 (-7.6% change). The surname moved down 291 positions in the national ranking, going from #9,375 to #9,666.
FAQ
Vences surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Vences?
Name Census estimates that about 3,678 living Americans carry the surname Vences. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 93,190 residents.
How common is Vences?
Vences ranks #9,666 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.07 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 3,207 people with the surname Vences. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,678), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.07 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.07 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Vences.
Has Vences become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Vences went from 3,470 recorded bearers to 3,207. That is a decrease of 263 (-7.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #9,375 to #9,666.
What does the Census say about the background of Vences?
Among Census respondents with the surname Vences, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 96.7%. The next largest groups are White (2.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Vences in the 2020 Census, accounting for 96.7% (3,102 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Vences appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (96.7%), White (2.7%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Vences (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Vences mean?
A Spanish surname derived from the place name Vences, referring to someone from that locality in Galicia, Spain. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Vences (1.07 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Vences?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.