Centeno
A Spanish surname from the word for rye, originally likely applied to someone associated with the grain or with a rye-growing place.
The #2,488 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 21,278 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Centeno is the Spanish word for rye. It comes through Romance from Latin roots connected with cereal grains, and in surnames it most likely began as a nickname or occupational label for someone who grew, sold, or lived near rye. In some cases it may also have been locational, referring to a place known for rye fields.
History
The surname is found in Spanish-speaking regions and later spread widely through migration to the Americas. Like many surnames based on crops and foods, it could arise independently in more than one place. The name is also recorded in Spanish colonial and modern Hispanic communities, which helped it remain familiar across the Spanish-speaking world.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Rye was an important bread grain in many parts of Europe, so surnames from crop names often reflected everyday rural life.
From the historical record
“Centellas. Rayos, chispas, espada. Centeno. Planta parecida al tri:o, con espigas mas lar- gas i comprimidas, ¡ que suelta mas fácilmente la semilla. Centuria. Número de cien años. En la milicia romana, compañia de cien hombres.”
— Diccionario de los apellidos