Show ContentsPiñera History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Piñera

What does the name Piñera mean?

The Spanish surname Piñera is of toponymic origin, deriving from the place name where the initial bearer lived or held land. In this instance, the surname Piñera is derived from the place name "Piñera," in Asturias, a province in northwest Spain.

Alternatively, the surname Piñera may be of nickname-occupational origin, deriving from a physical characteristic or personal attribute of the first bearer while occupational names derive from the trade or profession pursued by the initial bearer. In this case, the surname Piñera is derived from the Spanish word "piña" which signifies "pine cone" and the suffix "-era" which is the feminine ending associated with occupational surnames. In this case, Piñera was applied as a metonymic name to the descendant of the seller of pine cones.

Interestingly the names Piñero and Piñeiro are derived from the same origins, but hail from Galicia, further south than Asturias but in the same area of Spain. In this case, the name derives from the Galician word "pinheiro" meaning "pine tree." Another branch of the family moved to Portugal, where the first reference to the surname is of one Alfonso Pinheiro, who lived in the province of Mino in the year 1301.

Early Origins of the Piñera family

The surname Piñera was first found in the Asturias province of northwest Spain. There are at least six parishes so named in this area. This area known anciently as The Kingdom of Asturias was a kingdom founded by the Visigothic nobleman Pelagius (c. 685-737.)

Probably the most famous branch of the family is found in Chile, where the patriarch José Piñera Lombera, a native of Lima, Peru, originally Asturias, arrived in La Serena, Chile in 1827. This family produced at least five notables, one of which was recently twice President of Chile.

Early History of the Piñera family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Piñera research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1689, 1871 and 1922 are included under the topic Early Piñera History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Piñera Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Piñera, Pinera, Piñero, Piñeiro, Piñeyro and many more.

Early Notables of the Piñera family

Moses Pinheiro (d. 1689), an Italian Jew who lived in Livorno in the seventeenth century who was the teacher of Abraham Miguel Cardoso. Beatriz Pinheiro or Beatriz Paes...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Piñera Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Piñera migration to the United States +



Piñera Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Ramon R. Pinera, aged 30, Spanish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "City of Merida" in 1877 1
  • R. Pinera, aged 34, Spanish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Saratoga" in 1879 1
  • H. Pinera, aged 23, Spanish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Saratoga" in 1883 1
  • L. Pinera, aged 45, Spanish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Saratoga" in 1883 1
Piñera Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Gaetano Pinera, aged 26, Spanish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Citta di Milano" in 1903 1
  • A. Ayo Pinera, aged 21, Cuban settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Kaiser Wilhelm II" in 1904 1
  • Mrs. Pinera, aged 27, Cuban settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Kaiser Wilhelm II" in 1904 1
  • Manuel Pinera, aged 46, Cuban settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Kaiser Wilhelm II" in 1904 1
  • Antonio Pinera, aged 32, Meixcan settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Antonio Lopez" in 1907 1
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Piñera (post 1700) +

  • Sebastián Piñera (1949-2024), Chilean billionaire businessman and President of Chile (2010–2014, 2018-2022), killed in a helicopter crash
  • Mike Pinera (b. 1948), American guitarist for Iron Butterfly and Blue Image, known for their song "Ride Captain Ride"
  • Isma Piñera (b. 1977), Spanish football player
  • Gerardo Carrera Piñera (b. 1987), Spanish football player
  • Eva Piñera (1974-1996), Spanish swimmer who competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta
  • María Antonia Is Piñera (b. 1966), Spanish football defender
  • José Miguel Carlos "Negro" Piñera Echenique (1954-2025), Chilean celebrity, night club owner and amateur musician, the youngest brother of former Chilean President Sebastián Piñera and of economist José Piñera
  • Andrés Pío Bernardino Chadwick Piñera (b. 1956), Chilean right-wing politician and lawyer, Interior and Public Security Minister (2018-2019)
  • Virgilio Piñera (1912-1979), Cuban author, playwright, poet, short story writer, essayist and translator
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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