Recorded in many spellings including Pena, Pina, Pinilla, Pennetta, and Pennazzi, this is a surname of Roman (Latin) origins, and recorded in many parts of Southern Europe. The derivation is from the word 'penna', from the pre-Christian period, and this decribes either a prominent rock, or in most cases, a fortress or battlements. The Roman Empire spread through Europe for over one thousand years, and their influence on most European languages remains as the basis of the modern spellings. The surname was probably locational, but in some cases at least, it may have been occupational for one whose job was the manning or maintenance of the 'penna'.
Because of the many spellings of the surname it has been necessary to restrict examples of the recording. These include Nicolleta Penna, christened at Potenz, Italy, on June 11th 1613, Nicolosa de la Pena on March 5th 1713 at Santa Ana, Mexico, Luiza Penazzi at San Benedetto, Mantova, Italy, on February 6th 1755, and Luis Pena on February 3rd 1785 at Mission Buenaventura, California. Maria Mavilla Pina married Jose Raphael at San Jose Nuestra, Mexico, on Sepember 23rd 1802, whilst Dora Pena married John Parry Rowlands at El Dorado, California, on April 6th 1920. The coat of arms granted in Spain has the distinctive blazon of a blue field, charged with a gold five pointed star. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Matheo de la Pena, which was dated October 9th 1577, at Nuestra Senora, Valladolid, Spain, during the reign of King Phillip 11 of Spain, Emperor of Mexico, 1556 - 1598. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Discovering the historical roots of sapena is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname sapena is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname sapena, and in addition to the original locations of sapena, we can find out where people with the surname sapena can currently be found.
Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname sapena. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname sapena provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname sapena has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.
The historical chronicle of sapena is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname sapena, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of sapena developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname sapena are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.
We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname sapena, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about sapena and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname sapena or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of sapena.
It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished sapenas throughout human history. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname sapena were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like sapena can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames.
Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of sapena. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of sapena are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname sapena, as well as many other surnames.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of sapena, and at the same time, of surnames in general.