Explore the Family Name Spain
The meaning of Spain
English (Kent) and Irish (Tipperary and Offaly): 1. of Norman origin, a habitational name from Épaignes (Eure), recorded as Hispania in the 12th century. It was probably so named because it was established by colonists from Spain during the Roman Empire. 2. of Norman origin, a habitational name from Espinay (Ille-et-Vilaine) in Brittany. The placename derives from Old French espinee, a collective form of espine ‘thorn’. 3. nickname for a Spaniard, from Middle English Spain(e) ‘Spain’ (Old French Espaigne), or, in Ireland, a descriptive name for someone who had been to Spain, from Gaelic Spáinneach ‘Spanish’. Many Irish Catholics took refuge in Spain during the 17th-century wars.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Spain in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Spain experienced a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In the year 2000, it was the 2,943rd most popular surname in the United States, but by 2010, it dropped to 3,093rd place. This represents a change of -5.1%. However, the total count of those bearing this surname increased by 3.53% from 11,232 in 2000 to 11,628 in 2010. Despite this increase, its proportion per 100,000 individuals slightly decreased by 5.29%, from 4.16 in 2000 to 3.94 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,943 | #3,093 | -5.1% |
| Count | 11,232 | 11,628 | 3.53% |
| Proportion per 100k | 4.16 | 3.94 | -5.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Spain
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data revealed some changes for individuals with the last name Spain. The data showed an increase in diversity, with the percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic increasing by 128.57% and 82.67%, respectively. There was also an increase in the percentage of those identifying as Black (6.70%), those of two or more races (26.80%), and American Indian and Alaskan Native (18.82%). However, there was a slight decrease in the percentage of those identifying as White, down 4.66% from 76.64% in 2000 to 73.07% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 76.64% | 73.07% | -4.66% |
| Black | 18.8% | 20.06% | 6.7% |
| Hispanic | 1.5% | 2.74% | 82.67% |
| Two or More Races | 1.94% | 2.46% | 26.8% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.85% | 1.01% | 18.82% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.28% | 0.64% | 128.57% |
Spain 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 Spain is British & Irish, which comprises 58.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (20.4%) and Eastern European (4.5%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Scandinavian, Nigerian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Ashkenazi Jewish.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 58.2% |
| French & German | 20.4% |
| Eastern European | 4.5% |
| Other | 16.9% |
Possible origins of the surname Spain
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 Spain have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 86.70% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 86.30% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 86.30% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 85.90% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 85.50% |
What Spain 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 Spain is R-CTS3087, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS3087 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L21 and R-CTS241, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Gavin, Riordan, Reardon, Enright, Coggins, Hayman, Crotty, Anglin, Scanlan, Garvey.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Spain surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Spain 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.
"Spain" Surname 44.3%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Spain" Surname 28.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Spain" Surname 28.6%
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.
"Spain" Surname 22.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Spain?
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 Spain are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition