Last Name en Español: Exploring Spanish Surnames and Their Meanings

Are you curious about the origins and meanings of Spanish last names? Spanish surnames, known as "apellidos" in Spanish, offer a fascinating glimpse into the rich history and culture of Spain and Latin America. These names often hold deep meaning, reflecting family heritage, geographic origins, and even personal characteristics. Let's delve into the world of Spanish last names and uncover their captivating stories.
1. **Acosta:** From the Basque word "akosta," meaning "place of the oak trees."
2. **Aguilar:** Derived from the Latin "aquila," meaning "eagle."
3. **Alarcón:** From the Arabic "al-qarn," meaning "the horn," likely referring to a geographical feature.
4. **Alba:** Meaning "dawn" or "white" in Spanish.
5. **Alcala:** Derived from the Arabic "al-qal'a," meaning "the castle."
6. **Aldana:** Of Basque origin, meaning "hill" or "mountain."
7. **Alejandro:** Spanish form of the Greek name "Alexander," meaning "defender of mankind."
8. **Alfaro:** From the Arabic "al-far," meaning "the wolf."
9. **Alonso:** Spanish form of the Germanic name "Alwin," meaning "noble friend."
10. **Alvarez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Alvaro."
11. **Amaya:** Of Basque origin, meaning "strong" or "brave."
12. **Andrade:** Derived from the Latin "Andrada," meaning "brave" or "bold."
13. **Angulo:** Meaning "angle" or "corner" in Spanish.
14. **Aranda:** Derived from the Latin "arena," meaning "sand."
15. **Arias:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Arias."
16. **Armas:** Meaning "arms" or "weapons" in Spanish.
17. **Arroyo:** From the Spanish word "arroyo," meaning "stream" or "brook."
18. **Avila:** From the city of Avila in Spain.
19. **Ayala:** Of Basque origin, meaning "the place of the beech tree."
20. **Baena:** Derived from the Latin "Baena," meaning "she-goat."
21. **Barajas:** Meaning "shingles" or "tiles" in Spanish.
22. **Barrio:** Meaning "neighborhood" or "district" in Spanish.
23. **Bautista:** From the Spanish word "bautista," meaning "baptizer."
24. **Benitez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Benito."
25. **Blanco:** Meaning "white" or "fair" in Spanish.
26. **Borja:** From the city of Borja in Spain.
27. **Cabrera:** Meaning "goat" or "she-goat" in Spanish.
28. **Calderon:** Derived from the Spanish word "calderón," meaning "cauldron."
29. **Callejas:** Meaning "small streets" in Spanish.
30. **Campos:** Meaning "fields" or "plains" in Spanish.
31. **Cano:** Meaning "reed" or "cane" in Spanish.
32. **Carrillo:** Derived from the Latin "carrus," meaning "cart" or "wagon."
33. **Castillo:** Meaning "castle" in Spanish.
34. **Castro:** Meaning "castle" or "fort" in Spanish.
35. **Cervantes:** From the Spanish word "cervantes," meaning "deer."
36. **Chavez:** Derived from the Latin "Caputius," meaning "head" or "chieftain."
37. **Cortes:** Meaning "courts" or "yards" in Spanish.
38. **Diaz:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Diego."
39. **Dominguez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Domingo."
40. **Echevarria:** Of Basque origin, meaning "house of the oak tree."
41. **Elizondo:** From the Basque words "eli" (meaning "house") and "ondo" (meaning "good").
42. **Espinoza:** Meaning "thorn" or "spiny bush" in Spanish.
43. **Estrella:** Meaning "star" in Spanish.
44. **Fernandez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Fernando."
45. **Flores:** Meaning "flowers" in Spanish.
46. **Fonseca:** From the Latin "fons," meaning "fountain."
47. **Garcia:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Garcia."
48. **Garza:** From the Spanish word "garza," meaning "heron."
49. **Gómez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Gomez."
50. **Gonzalez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Gonzalo."
51. **Guerra:** Meaning "war" in Spanish.
52. **Guerrero:** Meaning "warrior" in Spanish.
53. **Hernandez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Hernando."
54. **Herrera:** Meaning "ironworker" or "blacksmith" in Spanish.
55. **Jimenez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Jaime."
56. **Lopez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Lope."
57. **Lorenzo:** Spanish form of the Latin name "Laurentius," meaning "laurel."
58. **Losa:** Meaning "flagstone" or "paving stone" in Spanish.
59. **Madrid:** From the city of Madrid in Spain.
60. **Manzanillo:** From the Spanish word "manzanillo," meaning "apple tree."
61. **Marquez:** Meaning "marquis" in Spanish.
62. **Martinez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Martin."
63. **Mateo:** Spanish form of the Hebrew name "Matthew," meaning "gift of God."
64. **Mendoza:** Of Arabic origin, meaning "the garden."
65. **Mendez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Menendez."
66. **Miranda:** From the Latin "mirandus," meaning "worthy of admiration."
67. **Moreno:** Meaning "dark" or "brown" in Spanish.
68. **Morales:** Meaning "manners" or "customs" in Spanish.
69. **Munoz:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Muñoz."
70. **Navarro:** Meaning "from Navarre" in Spanish, a region in northern Spain.
71. **Nieves:** Meaning "snow" in Spanish.
72. **Nunez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Nuño."
73. **Ochoa:** Of Basque origin, meaning "eight" or "eighth."
74. **Olivera:** From the Spanish word "oliva," meaning "olive."
75. **Ortega:** Of Basque origin, meaning "the bear."
76. **Ortiz:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Ortiz."
77. **Padilla:** From the Spanish word "padillo," meaning "small pad."
78. **Pardo:** Meaning "brown" or "tawny" in Spanish.
79. **Perez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Pedro."
80. **Pinto:** Meaning "painted" or "striped" in Spanish.
81. **Ponce:** From the Spanish word "ponce," meaning "bridge."
82. **Portillo:** Meaning "small gate" or "doorway" in Spanish.
83. **Quezada:** Derived from the Spanish word "quezada," meaning "a type of cheese."
84. **Ramirez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Ramiro."
85. **Ramos:** Meaning "branches" or "twigs" in Spanish.
86. **Reyes:** Meaning "kings" or "royalty" in Spanish.
87. **Rios:** Meaning "rivers" in Spanish.
88. **Rodriguez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Rodrigo."
89. **Romero:** Meaning "pilgrim" or "wanderer" in Spanish.
90. **Rojas:** Meaning "red" or "ruddy" in Spanish.
91. **Roldan:** From the Spanish word "roldán," meaning "pulley."
92. **Rubio:** Meaning "blond" or "fair-haired" in Spanish.
93. **Ruiz:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Ruy."
94. **Salazar:** Derived from the Arabic "al-ṣalāḥ," meaning "the good."
95. **Sanchez:** A patronymic surname meaning "son of Sancho."
96. **Santamaria:** Meaning "Holy Mary" in Spanish.
97. **Santiago:** Spanish form of the Hebrew name "James," meaning "supplanter."
98. **Santos:** Meaning "saints" in Spanish.
99. **Sanz:** Of Basque origin, meaning "stony."
100. **Sevilla:** From the city of Seville in Spain.