Explore the Family Name Spina
The meaning of Spina
Italian: 1. from spina ‘thorn, thorn bush’, used as a nickname in various senses, including ‘distress, sorrow’ (alluding to Christ’s crown of thorns), and also as a personal name; or alternatively a habitational name from any of numerous places called with this word (in some instances with reference to the dedication of a shrine). 2. in some cases possibly a shortened form of Malaspina. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Salvatore, Ciro, Antonio, Carmine, Angelo, Rocco, Vito, Carlo, Carmela, Santo, Vincenza, Vincenzo.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Spina in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Spina has seen a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 7,142nd most common surname, but by 2010, it had fallen to 7,481st place, representing a change of -4.75%. However, the overall count of individuals with the Spina surname increased during the same period from 4,314 to 4,453, an increase of 3.22%. Consequently, the proportion per 100,000 people dropped slightly from 1.6 to 1.51, marking a decline of -5.63%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,142 | #7,481 | -4.75% |
| Count | 4,314 | 4,453 | 3.22% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.6 | 1.51 | -5.63% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Spina
The ethnic identity associated with the Spina surname evolved significantly over the decade from 2000 to 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census. The largest group identifying as White decreased from 94.58% to 92.52%, marking a slight decrease of -2.18%. The Hispanic population saw the most dramatic increase, rising from 3.43% in 2000 to 5.57% in 2010, a substantial change of 62.39%. The categories of Asian/Pacific Islander and Two or more races also saw increases, while the Black category declined by -27.03%. Those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native also experienced a significant decrease from 0.19% to 0.11%, a change of -42.11%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.58% | 92.52% | -2.18% |
| Hispanic | 3.43% | 5.57% | 62.39% |
| Two or More Races | 0.97% | 1.01% | 4.12% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.46% | 0.52% | 13.04% |
| Black | 0.37% | 0.27% | -27.03% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.19% | 0.11% | -42.11% |
Spina 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 Spina is Italian, which comprises 47.8% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (21.6%) and French & German (10.2%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Spanish & Portuguese, Ashkenazi Jewish, Greek & Balkan, and Iranian, Caucasian & Mesopotamian.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Italian | 47.8% |
| British & Irish | 21.6% |
| French & German | 10.2% |
| Other | 20.4% |
Possible origins of the surname Spina
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 Spina have recent ancestry locations spanning a few countries, mostly in Italy, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Sicily, Italy | 74.80% |
| Campania, Italy | 73.00% |
| Apulia, Italy | 70.30% |
| Calabria, Italy | 69.40% |
| Abruzzo, Italy | 66.70% |
What Spina 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 Spina is J-M67, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup J-M67 is descended from haplogroup J-M304. Other common haplogroups include G-L30 and E-L29, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Conti, Marino, Campagna, Rosenblum, Ricci, D'Angelo, Silverstein, Lombardo, Destefano, Russo.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Spina surname are: H1, H, T2. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins J-M304Your 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 Spina 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.
"Spina" Surname 51.6%
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.
"Spina" Surname 22.2%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Spina" Surname 14.6%
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.
"Spina" Surname 13.0%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Spina?
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 Spina are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition