PINA
Pina is a surname that traces its roots to both Italian and Portuguese cultures, with documented usage in the Iberian Peninsula and throughout the Spanish‑speaking world. Historical records first record the name in Europe, notably in Spain, where the surname appears in medieval and early modern documents.
The Italian derivation of Pina comes from the word pino, meaning pine tree, while the Portuguese form originates from pinha, denoting a pinecone. In both languages, the surname likely served as a topographic designation for individuals residing near a pine tree or a pine forest, and it may also have functioned as an occupational identifier for those who worked with pine trees or processed pinecones.
In Spanish contexts, the name has been associated with the word piña, which is commonly understood as pineapple but in older usage also alluded to pine trees or pine forests. The surname thus traditionally signified a person living in or near a pine forest. Sources also note that, in some Italian traditions, Pina is a diminutive of the female personal name Giuseppina (Josephine), suggesting that the first bearer of the name might have been a woman named Josephine.
A Roman (Latin) origin is also documented, with the surname recorded in variations such as Pena, Pinilla, Pennetta, Pennazzi. These forms derive from the Latin word penna, which in pre‑Christian usage referred to a prominent rock or more commonly a fortress or battlement. The surname was probably locational, but in some instances it may have been occupational for those tasked with manning or maintaining the penna. Notable early records include Nicolleta Penna, christened at Potenz, Italy, on 11 June 1613; Nicolosa de la Pena, born 5 March 1713 at Santa Ana, Mexico; Luiza Penazzi, baptised 6 February 1755 at San Benedetto, Mantova, Italy; Luis Pena, recorded 3 February 1785 at Mission Buenaventura, California; Maria Mavilla Pina, married Jose Raphael 23 September 1802 at San Jose Nuestra, Mexico; and Dora Pena, married John Parry Rowlands 6 April 1920 at El Dorado, California.
The coat of arms associated with the surname in Spain is a blue field charged with a gold five‑pointed star. The earliest documented spelling is Matheo de la Pena, dated 9 October 1577 at Nuestra Senora, Valladolid, Spain, during the reign of King Phillip XI of Spain. The nomenclature appears again in connection with the Spanish empire, where descriptions note a reign as Emperor of Mexico from 1556 to 1598.
Geographically, the surname Pina remains most common in the Spanish‑speaking world, especially in Spain and its former colonies. In Spain, it is present across Catalonia, Aragon, Castile and Leon, and Madrid. Within Mexico, it is concentrated in Baja California, Sonora, and Mexico City. The Dominican Republic hosts the name throughout its provinces, including in the cities of Santo Domingo and Santiago. In Portugal, the surname is recorded in Lisbon, surrounding regions, and the Azores Islands, while in the Philippines it appears in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. In the United States, the surname is most frequently encountered in Texas, California, New Mexico, Florida, New York, and New Jersey.
Variations of the surname, reflecting regional linguistic differences, include Pina, Pinas, Pino, Pinos, Pinna, Pineiro, Pinho, Pinelli, Pinto, Pinella. In Galicia and parts of Spain such as Castile and Leon, the forms Pineiro, Pinho, and Pinto are prevalent. The different spellings are often combined with patronymic surnames such as Marroquin, Moreno, Costa, Vieira, producing hyphenated forms like Pina Marroquin or Vitoria Pineiro.
While recent studies have posited a potential connection between the surname Pina and the Arabic name Bina—the English transliteration of the Arabic title Ibn, meaning “son of”—there is no definitive evidence that the name originated from African regions of Spain or that it was altered during diaspora migrations. The hypothesis remains unconfirmed.
Typical given names associated with the Pina surname
Male
- Aaron
- Antonio
- Bruno
- Gregg
- Jose
- Manuel
- Marco
- Paul
- Paulo
- Ricardo
- Richard
Female
- Ana
- Christine
- Claudia
- Cristina
- Jennifer
- Maria
- Paula
- Sarah
- Sonia
- Vera
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Pina in...
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There are approximately 213 people named Pina in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around three in a million people in Britain are named Pina.
Origin: Iberian
Region of origin: Europe
Country of origin: Spain
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Spanish
