Explore the Family Name Arana
The meaning of Arana
1. Basque: topographic name from aran ‘valley’ + the definite article -a, or a habitational name from any of several places so named in Treviño (province of Burgos, where Basque was still spoken during the early Middle Ages) and Biscay (Basque Country, Spain). 2. Spanish (Araña; Canary Islands): from araña ‘spider’, a nickname for a weaver or perhaps for an industrious or opportunistic person. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Carlos, Jesus, Juan, Manuel, Ramon, Beatriz, Enrique, Francisco, Jaime, Mario, Cesar.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Arana in the United States?
The surname 'Arana' has experienced a notable surge in popularity over the years, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, Arana ranked as the 4660th most common surname, but by 2010 it had climbed to 3347th, marking an impressive 28.18% rise in rank. The number of individuals bearing the 'Arana' surname also increased significantly during this period, from 6,957 to 10,698, representing a 53.77% increase. Consequently, the proportion of people with the surname per 100k also grew by 40.7%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,660 | #3,347 | 28.18% |
| Count | 6,957 | 10,698 | 53.77% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.58 | 3.63 | 40.7% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Arana
A closer look at the ethnic identity of those bearing the 'Arana' surname shows a diverse mix, based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census. A majority identify as Hispanic, although this group saw a slight decrease of 4.13% from 2000 to 2010. Meanwhile, the White demographic saw the largest increase, growing by 38.39%. Interestingly, the Black demographic also showed considerable growth, increasing by 32.79%. On the other hand, the percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and those who identify with two or more races both diminished slightly, while the smallest group, American Indian and Alaskan Native, decreased by 37.5%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 83.57% | 80.12% | -4.13% |
| White | 9.3% | 12.87% | 38.39% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 4.2% | 3.9% | -7.14% |
| Black | 1.22% | 1.62% | 32.79% |
| Two or More Races | 1.55% | 1.39% | -10.32% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.16% | 0.1% | -37.5% |
Arana ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Arana is Spanish & Portuguese, which comprises 39.7% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are Indigenous American (26.4%) and British & Irish (7.9%). Additional ancestries include French & German, Filipino & Austronesian, Italian, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Angolan & Congolese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Spanish & Portuguese | 39.7% |
| Indigenous American | 26.4% |
| British & Irish | 7.9% |
| Other | 26.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Arana
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Arana have recent ancestry locations all within Mexico.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Guanajuato, Mexico | 49.70% |
| Michoacan, Mexico | 49.70% |
| Coahuila, Mexico | 49.10% |
| State Of Mexico, Mexico | 49.10% |
| Chihuahua, Mexico | 49.10% |
What Arana haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Arana is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-U152 and E-Z827, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Noriega, Alvarez, Godoy, Cabral, Millan, Henriquez, Salvador, Sierra, Rubio, Vidal.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Arana surname are: A2, H, B2. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to some of the first Americans
Though the Ice Age was beginning to retreat when your A2 ancestors first entered North America, there were still massive barriers blocking their way. Glaciers and inhospitable climate covered much of the continent, blocking entry into the interior. Nonetheless, researchers have found evidence that a wave of American founders migrated over 13,000 kilometers to reach southern Chile in only 2,000 years, a blink of an eye in the story of human migration! Their highway to the south was the coast of the Pacific, stocked with fish, diverse marine mammals, and other valuable resources in the rich kelp forests of the upper latitudes and in the abundant fresh-water rivers near the equator. Because of this rapid movement south, the A2 haplogroup and its diverse branches are found throughout North and South America.
What do people with the surname Arana have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Arana" Surname 35.1%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Cheek Dimples
Small indentations that appear on the cheeks when a person smiles.
"Arana" Surname 32.4%
23andMe Users 37.6%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Arana" Surname 25.6%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Arana" Surname 9.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Arana?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Arana are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition