Last Names

Surnames / C

Cardona

What is the origin of the last name Cardona?

Spanish originLocational (a place or landscape)Rank #1,071 in the US

Meaning and origin

The last name Cardona has its origins in Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain. It is derived from the place name Cardona, which is a town located in the province of Barcelona. The name Cardona itself is believed to have originated from the Late Latin term "cardum," meaning "thistle," possibly indicating that the town was associated with thistle-covered lands. Over time, individuals from Cardona and their descendants adopted the surname as a way to identify their connection to the town. The surname Cardona has since spread beyond Catalonia and can be found among Spanish-speaking communities around the world.

The longer story

The last name Cardona is of Catalan origin, specifically originating from the region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain. It is a locational or habitational surname, derived from the place name Cardona. Cardona is a town and municipality located in the province of Barcelona in Catalonia.

Cardona is believed to have originated from the Latin word "cardus" which means "thistle" or "thorny plant." It is likely that the place name Cardona was given to a location characterized by the presence of thistle or thorny plants.

As a locational surname, Cardona was used to identify individuals who hailed from the town of Cardona or who had ancestral ties to the place. It was common for individuals to adopt surnames based on their place of origin, particularly during the Middle Ages when surnames were becoming more established.

Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.

#1,071

Cardona was the 1,071st most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 32,727 people, about 11 in every 100,000.

Who carries it

  • White (non-Hispanic)6.3%
  • Hispanic or Latino91.8%
  • Black (non-Hispanic)0.5%
  • Asian or Pacific Islander1.0%
  • Two or more races0.3%
  • American Indian or Alaska Native0.2%

Where it is found

Countries linked to Cardona.

Surnames like Cardona

Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.

Check the sources

For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.