Spanish Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Meanings

Are you looking for a unique and meaningful Spanish last name? Spanish surnames offer a rich tapestry of history, culture, and tradition. This comprehensive list delves into the depths of some of the most common and distinctive Spanish last names, exploring their origins and meanings. Whether you're researching your family history or simply seeking inspiration for a character in your next novel, this guide provides an in-depth exploration of the world of Spanish last names.
1. **Alonso:** Son of Alfonso, meaning "noble and ready for battle".
2. **Alvarez:** Son of Alvaro, meaning "wise protector" or "elf-like".
3. **Arias:** From the Latin "Arias," meaning "from the air" or "from the sky".
4. **Barrios:** From the Spanish word "barrio," meaning "neighborhood" or "district".
5. **Benitez:** Son of Benito, meaning "blessed" or "God's grace".
6. **Blanco:** Meaning "white" or "fair" in Spanish.
7. **Borja:** From the Basque word "Borja," meaning "red or reddish."
8. **Cabrera:** Meaning "goat herder" in Spanish.
9. **Calderón:** Meaning "small cauldron" or "small kettle" in Spanish.
10. **Campos:** Meaning "fields" or "plains" in Spanish.
11. **Cardenas:** From the Spanish word "cárdenas," meaning "purple" or "dark red."
12. **Carrillo:** Meaning "small cart" or "chariot" in Spanish.
13. **Castillo:** Meaning "castle" in Spanish.
14. **Cervantes:** Meaning "stag" or "deer" in Spanish.
15. **Chavez:** Meaning "house" or "dwelling" in Spanish.
16. **Cortes:** Meaning "courts" or "royal courts" in Spanish.
17. **Diaz:** Son of Diego, meaning "rich" or "wealthy".
18. **Fernandez:** Son of Fernando, meaning "brave warrior" or "adventurer".
19. **Flores:** Meaning "flowers" in Spanish.
20. **Garcia:** Son of García, meaning "spearman" or "warrior".
21. **Garza:** Meaning "heron" in Spanish.
22. **Gonzalez:** Son of Gonzalo, meaning "battle-ready" or "warlike".
23. **Gomez:** Son of Goméz, meaning "man of the house" or "protector".
24. **Hernandez:** Son of Hernando, meaning "brave warrior" or "strong leader".
25. **Herrera:** Meaning "ironworker" or "blacksmith" in Spanish.
26. **Jimenez:** Son of Jaime, meaning "supplanter" or "one who takes the place of another".
27. **Lopez:** Son of Lope, meaning "wolf" in Spanish.
28. **Martinez:** Son of Martín, meaning "warlike" or "belonging to Mars".
29. **Marquez:** Meaning "marquis" or "nobleman" in Spanish.
30. **Mendez:** Son of Menéndez, meaning "protector" or "defender".
31. **Miranda:** Meaning "to be seen" or "to be admired" in Spanish.
32. **Moreno:** Meaning "dark" or "brown" in Spanish.
33. **Munoz:** Son of Muñoz, meaning "monk" or "religious man".
34. **Navarro:** Meaning "from Navarre" in Spanish, a region in northern Spain.
35. **Nunez:** Son of Nuño, meaning "bold" or "brave".
36. **Ortega:** Meaning "bear" in Spanish.
37. **Perez:** Son of Pedro, meaning "rock" or "stone" in Spanish.
38. **Ramirez:** Son of Ramiro, meaning "strong" or "powerful" in Spanish.
39. **Reyes:** Meaning "kings" in Spanish.
40. **Rodriguez:** Son of Rodrigo, meaning "famous" or "renowned" in Spanish.
41. **Romero:** Meaning "pilgrim" or "one who goes to Rome" in Spanish.
42. **Ruiz:** Son of Rodrigo or Ruy, meaning "famous" or "renowned" in Spanish.
43. **Sanchez:** Son of Sancho, meaning "holy" or "sacred" in Spanish.
44. **Santos:** Meaning "saints" in Spanish.
45. **Silva:** Meaning "forest" or "woods" in Spanish.
46. **Torres:** Meaning "towers" in Spanish.
47. **Valdez:** Meaning "from the valley" in Spanish.
48. **Vargas:** Meaning "meadow" or "grassland" in Spanish.
49. **Vazquez:** Son of Vasco, meaning "Basque" or "from the Basque country".
50. **Vega:** Meaning "meadow" or "plain" in Spanish.
51. **Velasquez:** Meaning "little veil" or "small sail" in Spanish.
52. **Velez:** Meaning "old" or "ancient" in Spanish.
53. **Vera:** Meaning "true" or "faithful" in Spanish.
54. **Villa:** Meaning "town" or "village" in Spanish.
55. **Villanueva:** Meaning "new town" in Spanish.
56. **Villegas:** Meaning "old town" in Spanish.
57. **Zapata:** Meaning "shoe" or "boot" in Spanish.
58. **Zuniga:** From the Basque word "Zuniga," meaning "white" or "fair."