de la Peña

The origin of the surname de la Peña (also Peña) is in present-day Galicia, Spain. [3] It derives from the word "penna," which typically describes a prominent rock and may have been given to one whose job was to maintain said rock.[4]

The bearers of this surname proved their noble descent in the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword in 1626, 1629, 1651 and 1657; in the Military Order of Calatrava, in 1657, 1687, 1688, 1700 and 1785; in the Order of Alcántara in 1644 and 1693 and in the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Carlos III, in 1790 and 1838; and many times in the Royal Chancery of Valladolid; in the Royal Audience of Oviedo, in 1788 and 1795; and in the Royal Company of Midshipmen in 1767.

• Captain General Don Manuel la Peña fl.(1808–1811), sometimes referred to as Lapeña, was a Spanish military officer who served during the Peninsular War (Guerra de la Independencia Española).
• Don Manuel de la Peña y Peña (1789–1850) was a Mexican politician and lawyer, interim president of Mexico from September to November 1847 and president from January 1848 to June 1848.
• Don Lucas de Zafra-Vazquez y Tallada, de la Plaza y de la Peña, Marquess de los Arenales, Señor de Castril in Granada.
• Don Ramón María del Valle-Inclán y de la Peña, Marquess de Bradomin, (1866–1936) was a Spanish dramatist, novelist and member of the Spanish Generation of 98.
• Don Gaspar Castellano y de la Peña, Count de Castellano was a Spanish author.
• Don José González de la Peña y Rodríguez de la Encina, Barón de Forna (1887–1961) was an acclaimed Spanish portrait painter and artist. He was also consul general of Spain in Venezuela.
• Luis Sáenz Peña (1822–1907), President of Argentina (1892–1895)
• Roque Sáenz Peña (1851–1914), President of Argentina (1910–1914)
• Pedro Pablo Peña Cañete (1864–1943), President of Paraguay (1912)
• Stefan de la Peña fl. (1969–2004) Intellectual and Philosopher of Epistemology
• Don Alfonso Peña Boeuf (1888–1966) was Minister of Transport in the Spanish Government (1938–1945) during the Francoist State.
• Don Ricardo Enrique Pallasa de la Peña III (1853–1898), Barón de Azucar and General of the Spanish Naval fleet in the Philippines (1893–1898)
• Don Pedro Juan de la Peña (1855–1945), Personal chef to King Alfonso XIII (1885-1905)
• José Manuel Castañón de la Peña (1920–2001), was a Spanish writer born in Pola de Lena (Asturias) who lived in exile in Venezuela during the Francoist State. [5]

People with the surname de la Peña or Peña who held a title of nobility in Spain in more recent years include:

• Don Ramiro Pérez-Maura y de la Peña, Grandee of Spain, Duke de Maura and Count de Mortera (Granted in 1930 and 1876 respectively)
• Don Antonio González de Aguilar y de la Peña, Marquess de Arenal (Granted in 1847)
• Don Magín Peña y Lorca, Marquess de Ogijares (Granted in 1889)
• Doña Marina Peña y Paradela, Countess de Gaviria (Granted in 1837)
• Doña Helena de la Peña y Robles, Countess de Xauen (Granted in 1929)
• Doña Matilde Francisca Barriouevo y Peña, Vincountess de Barrionuevo (Granted in 1891)
• Don Reynaldo Enriques De la Pena, oldest son, last with royal family blood
  • married to Edwina Sibal Torres, bore two daughters.
  • Raydelwina Torres De la Pena, emancipated herself 1992
  • Maria Rowena Torres De la Pena, only blood heir disappeared from Philippines 1992-1993

• Elenco de grandezas y títulos nobiliarios españoles 2006 (Ampelio Alonso de Cadenas y López/Hidalguía)
• Blasonario de la consanguinidad ibérica 1980