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Origin of the Pagan Surname
The surname Pagana has a geographical distribution that, for the most part, is concentrated in Spanish-speaking countries, as well as in some European nations and regions of America. Current data show a significant incidence in the Philippines (401), the United States (159), Italy (157), and to a lesser extent in countries such as Greece, Zimbabwe, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, and others. The predominant presence in the Philippines and the United States, along with its notable incidence in Italy, suggests that the surname could have roots in regions with a history of colonization or migration from Europe, particularly from the Iberian Peninsula or Italy. The high incidence in the Philippines, a country with Spanish colonial history, reinforces the hypothesis of a Spanish or Latin American origin, given that many surnames in the Philippines come from Spanish colonization from the 16th century onwards. The presence in Italy, for its part, could indicate an origin in the Italian peninsula, or a later expansion through European migrations. The dispersion in American countries, such as Argentina and Brazil, also points to a possible colonial or migratory expansion from Europe to America. Taken together, the current distribution suggests that the surname Pagana probably has an origin in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain, and that its expansion was favored by the migratory and colonial processes of the 16th centuries onwards.
Etymology and Meaning of Pagan
The surname Pagana seems to derive from a Latin or Romance root term, related to the word "paganus", which in Latin means "peasant", "rustic" or "from the countryside". The form "Pagan" would be, in this context, a feminine adjective or noun that refers to a person who, in ancient times, practiced religions other than the dominant monotheistic ones in the region, or to someone who lived in rural or non-Christianized areas. The root "paganus" in Latin is related to the rural world and, in some cases, to pre-Christian cultural identity in Europe. The "-a" ending in "Pagana" may indicate a feminine adjective in Spanish, but may also have been used as a surname in its noun form, especially in historical or regional contexts. From a linguistic point of view, the surname could be classified as toponymic or descriptive, since it refers to a social or geographical characteristic of the ancestors who bore it. It is plausible that, originally, "Pagan" was a nickname or name for people who lived in rural areas, or who had some relationship with religious practices considered pagan at the time. The possible connection with the Latin term "paganus" also suggests that the surname could have arisen in the Middle Ages, when religious and social distinctions were relevant in the identification of individuals and communities.
History and Expansion of the Surname
The analysis of the current distribution of the surname Pagana allows us to infer that its most probable origin is in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain, where the influence of Latin and the history of rural and religious communities would have favored the formation of surnames related to terms such as "paganus". During the Middle Ages, in the peninsula, social and religious differentiation led to nicknames or names related to cultural or religious characteristics becoming hereditary surnames. The presence in Latin American countries, such as Argentina and Brazil, can be explained by the migratory and colonial processes that took place from the 16th century onwards, when the Spanish and Portuguese took their surnames to America. The notable incidence in the Philippines, with 401 records, reinforces the hypothesis that the surname arrived through Spanish colonization, which lasted from the 16th to the 19th century. The expansion towards the United States, with 159 incidents, is probably related to European and Latin American migrations in the 19th and 20th centuries, in a context of global mobility. The presence in Italy, with 157 incidents, may be due to geographical proximity and historical cultural exchanges, or to internal migrations in Europe. The dispersion in countries such as Greece, Germany, and others, although to a lesser extent, may also reflect subsequent migratory movements, in search of economic opportunities or for political reasons. In short, the expansion of the Pagana surname seems to be closely linked to the colonial, migratory and cultural processes that have shaped the distribution of surnames in the Hispanic and European world from the Middle Ages to thecurrent events.
Variants and Related Forms of Pagana
As for the variants of the Pagana surname, it is possible that there are different spelling forms, influenced by phonetic and orthographic adaptations in different countries and regions. For example, in Italy, it could be found as "Pagan", which is a masculine and more common form in that language, derived from the same Latin origin. In Spanish-speaking countries, variants such as "Pagán" or "Pagana" are likely to exist with different accentuations or spellings, depending on regional spelling rules. Furthermore, in regions where the influence of English or other languages is significant, adapted forms could appear, although there is no concrete evidence in the available data. In relation to related surnames, "Pagano" in Italian, "Pagan" in English, or "Paganini" in Italian, share the etymological root and could be considered variants or surnames with a common root. Regional adaptation may also be reflected in the incorporation of suffixes or prefixes that indicate patronymics or toponyms, although in the case of Pagana, the evidence points to a more descriptive or social origin. The existence of these variants reinforces the hypothesis of a Latin origin and its subsequent adaptation in different languages and cultures, depending on migrations and regional linguistic influences.
