Explore the Family Name Ponce De Leon
The meaning of Ponce De Leon
Spanish (Ponce de León): compound of the surname Ponce + the habitational name León (see Leon). History: Juan Ponce De León, the Spanish explorer who discovered Florida, came from a noble Aragonese family. He is believed to have been on board for Columbus’s second voyage to Hispaniola in 1493. After his death in Florida from a wound from an Indian arrow in 1521, Ponce De León’s title and rights in Florida were passed on to his son. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Luis, Cesar, Mercedes, Alberto, Francisco, Javier, Juan, Lazaro, Leticia, Manuel, Ramon.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ponce De Leon in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Ponce De Leon has seen a significant increase between 2000 and 2010. The rank of the surname moved from 19,629 to 16,509, an improvement of approximately 15.89%. The count of individuals with this surname also rose by 36.9%, growing from 1,271 in 2000 to 1,740 in 2010. The proportion per 100,000 people increased as well, going from 0.47 to 0.59, a change of 25.53%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,629 | #16,509 | 15.89% |
| Count | 1,271 | 1,740 | 36.9% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.47 | 0.59 | 25.53% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ponce De Leon
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census revealed some shifts among those bearing the Ponce De Leon surname from 2000 to 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as Hispanic saw a slight increase from 81.83% to 84.20%. Meanwhile, the percentage of individuals identifying as White decreased by 21.69%, dropping from 13.14% to 10.29%. Those identifying as Black or Asian/Pacific Islander both saw increases, with the former rising by 36.36% to 0.75% and the latter increasing by 17.40% to 4.25%. However, the percentage of individuals identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native, as well as Two or more races, was suppressed for privacy in the 2010 data.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 81.83% | 84.2% | 2.9% |
| White | 13.14% | 10.29% | -21.69% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 3.62% | 4.25% | 17.4% |
| Black | 0.55% | 0.75% | 36.36% |
| Two or More Races | 0.39% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.47% | 0% | 0% |