Explore the Family Name De Pena
The meaning of De Pena
Spanish (De Peña): variant, with the preposition de ‘from’, of Peña ‘rock, boulder’ (see Pena 1). This surname is rare in Spain. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Francisco, Luis, Rafael, Bolivar, Manuel, Ramona, Ruben, Altagracia, Arturo, Carlos, Cesar, Ernesto.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name De Pena in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname De Pena has seen a significant increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked 33,333 in terms of popularity, but by 2010 it had risen to rank 27,110, showing an increase of 18.67%. The count of individuals with this last name also increased during this period, growing from 646 to 893, which is an impressive rise of 38.24%. The proportion of people named De Pena per 100,000 also increased by 25.0%, moving from 0.24 to 0.3.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #33,333 | #27,110 | 18.67% |
| Count | 646 | 893 | 38.24% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.24 | 0.3 | 25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name De Pena
The ethnic identity linked to the surname De Pena, as revealed by the Decennial U.S. Census, shows a majority Hispanic heritage. In 2000, 84.37% of those holding the surname identified as Hispanic, and this percentage increased to 88.80% in 2010, marking a growth of 5.25%. Over the same decade, the percentage of De Penas identifying as White decreased by 17.30%, going from 8.67% to 7.17%. Those identifying as Black also saw a substantial decrease of 55.32%, dropping from 5.26% to 2.35%. Meanwhile, the percentages for Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native remained at zero, and the percentage of individuals identifying as two or more races decreased slightly from 1.24% to 1.01%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 84.37% | 88.8% | 5.25% |
| White | 8.67% | 7.17% | -17.3% |
| Black | 5.26% | 2.35% | -55.32% |
| Two or More Races | 1.24% | 1.01% | -18.55% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |