<Tr> <Th> Region of origin </Th> <Td> Castile </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Footnotes: Frequency Comparisons: </Td> </Tr> <P> Peña or de la Peña is a Spanish habitation surname . The origin of the surname can be traced directly to the Middle Ages . The earliest public record of the surname dates to the 13th century in the Valley de Mena (Burgos) in the Kingdom of Castile . The origin of the last name is in present - day Galicia, Spain . The Peñas lived, originally, near a cliff or rocky land . Records indicate that the name derives from the Spanish word peña meaning "rock," "crag" or "cliff ." </P> <P> The bearers of this surname proved their noble descent in the Order of Saint James of the Sword in 1626, 1629, 1651 and 1657; in the 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 Audiencia and Chancillería of Valladolid; in the Royal Audience of Oviedo, in 1788 and 1795; and in the Royal Company of Midshipmen in 1767 . </P>

Where does the last name pena come from
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