Cárdenas is a surname generally of
Spanish origin, however, the surname has been traced back to 9th century Sicily . The Cardenas family fled Sicily due to religious persecution and founded a city in Spain called Cardenas. The name of the city of was later changed to Antequera. During the Spanish Inquisition, the Cardenas family converted from Judaism to Catholicism. All persons with the surname Cardenas can trace their origin to the same family (unless a member by marriage).
See more at Wikipedia.org...