Explore the Family Name Penza
The meaning of Penza
Italian (Apulia): from the personal name Penza, feminine of Penzo (a variant of Penso), or from a short form of a personal name such as Pensabene. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Angelo, Carmine, Domenic, Guido, Antonio, Giuseppe, Rinaldo, Sal, Salvatore, Saverio, Silvio, Vincenzo.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Penza in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Penza has seen a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname ranked 33,876, but by 2010 it fell to 35,246, reflecting a change of -4.04%. However, the count of people with this surname did increase slightly from 634 in 2000 to 639 in 2010, marking a growth of 0.79%. The proportion of individuals named Penza per 100k also declined during this period from 0.24 to 0.22, a decrease of 8.33%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #33,876 | #35,246 | -4.04% |
| Count | 634 | 639 | 0.79% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.24 | 0.22 | -8.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Penza
Discussing the ethnic identity associated with the surname Penza, data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates that predominantly, individuals with this last name identify as White, although this percentage dropped slightly from 94.64% in 2000 to 93.43% in 2010. Those identifying as Hispanic made up the second largest group, increasing from 2.84% to 3.13% over the same decade. Notably, the proportion of those identifying as Black saw significant growth, escalating by 41.82% from 1.10% to 1.56%. A small percentage of individuals with the Penza surname identified as having two or more races, which increased by 15.79%. However, no individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.64% | 93.43% | -1.28% |
| Hispanic | 2.84% | 3.13% | 10.21% |
| Black | 1.1% | 1.56% | 41.82% |
| Two or More Races | 0.95% | 1.1% | 15.79% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.78% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |