Spanish Citizenship Last Names: A Guide for 2024

Are you exploring Spanish citizenship and want to understand the significance of last names in the process? This article provides a comprehensive list of common Spanish surnames, along with their detailed meanings, to help you delve deeper into your heritage and possibly discover a connection to Spain. Whether you're seeking to trace your family tree or simply curious about the rich tapestry of Spanish last names, this guide will be a valuable resource for your journey.
1. **Alonso**: Derived from the Germanic name "Aelwis", meaning "noble friend" or "famous warrior".
2. **Alvarez**: Meaning "son of Alvaro," a name of Germanic origin meaning "wise counsel" or "elf-like" warrior.
3. **Arias**: From the Basque word "aria", meaning "lion" or "noble."
4. **Barros**: Originating from a place name, meaning "muddy land" or "marshland."
5. **Benítez**: Meaning "son of Benito," a name of Latin origin meaning "blessed" or "fortunate."
6. **Blanco**: Meaning "white" or "fair," possibly referring to a person's complexion or a geographical feature.
7. **Borja**: From a place name in Spain, potentially meaning "place of marshes" or "swampy area."
8. **Cabrera**: From the Latin word "cabra," meaning "goat," possibly referring to a person's occupation or a place name.
9. **Calvo**: Meaning "bald," possibly referring to a person's physical characteristic.
10. **Cánovas**: From a place name, meaning "place of reeds" or "marsh."
11. **Carrasco**: Meaning "oak grove," possibly referring to a place where oak trees grow abundantly.
12. **Castillo**: Meaning "castle," possibly referring to a person's occupation or a place name.
13. **Castro**: Meaning "fortress" or "castle," possibly referring to a person's occupation or a place name.
14. **Ceballos**: Meaning "onion field," possibly referring to a person's occupation or a place name.
15. **Cervantes**: Meaning "stag" or "deer," possibly referring to a person's occupation or a place name.
16. **Collado**: Meaning "hill" or "ridge," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
17. **Cortés**: Meaning "short" or "courteous," possibly referring to a person's physical characteristic or personality.
18. **Díaz**: Meaning "son of Diego," a name of Spanish origin meaning "rich" or "wealthy."
19. **Domínguez**: Meaning "son of Domingo," a name of Latin origin meaning "Sunday" or "belonging to the Lord."
20. **Fernández**: Meaning "son of Fernando," a name of Germanic origin meaning "peace journey."
21. **Flores**: Meaning "flowers" or "blossoms," possibly referring to a person's occupation or a place name.
22. **García**: Meaning "son of Garcio," a name of Basque origin meaning "spearman" or "warrior."
23. **Gómez**: Meaning "son of Gomo," a name of Germanic origin meaning "brave protector."
24. **González**: Meaning "son of Gonzalo," a name of Germanic origin meaning "warfare" or "battle."
25. **Hernández**: Meaning "son of Hernando," a name of Germanic origin meaning "strong ruler."
26. **Jiménez**: Meaning "son of Jaime," a name of Spanish origin meaning "supplanter" or "one who takes the place of another."
27. **López**: Meaning "son of Lope," a name of Germanic origin meaning "wolf cub."
28. **Martínez**: Meaning "son of Martín," a name of Latin origin meaning "warlike" or "devoted to Mars."
29. **Marín**: From a place name, possibly meaning "of the sea" or "maritime."
30. **Mendoza**: From a place name, possibly meaning "mountain of sheep" or "sheepfold."
31. **Menéndez**: Meaning "son of Menendo," a name of Germanic origin meaning "defender of mankind."
32. **Miranda**: From a place name, possibly meaning "beautiful view" or "place of observation."
33. **Moreno**: Meaning "dark-skinned" or "brown," possibly referring to a person's complexion.
34. **Muñoz**: Meaning "son of Muño," a name of Germanic origin meaning "brave warrior."
35. **Navarro**: From a place name, meaning "belonging to Navarre," a region in Spain.
36. **Nieto**: Meaning "grandson," possibly referring to a person's lineage.
37. **Núñez**: Meaning "son of Nuño," a name of Germanic origin meaning "courageous" or "bold."
38. **Ortega**: From a place name, possibly meaning "place of bear dens" or "bear territory."
39. **Pérez**: Meaning "son of Pedro," a name of Greek origin meaning "rock" or "stone."
40. **Ramírez**: Meaning "son of Ramiro," a name of Germanic origin meaning "famous counselor."
41. **Rodríguez**: Meaning "son of Rodrigo," a name of Germanic origin meaning "famous ruler."
42. **Romero**: From a place name, possibly meaning "pilgrim" or "one who goes on a pilgrimage."
43. **Ruiz**: Meaning "son of Ruy," a name of Germanic origin meaning "famous" or "renowned."
44. **Sánchez**: Meaning "son of Sancho," a name of Germanic origin meaning "defender" or "protector."
45. **Santos**: Meaning "saints," possibly referring to a person's piety or a place name.
46. **Serrano**: Meaning "mountain dweller," possibly referring to a person's occupation or a place name.
47. **Silva**: Meaning "forest" or "wood," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
48. **Torres**: Meaning "towers," possibly referring to a person's occupation or a place name.
49. **Valdés**: Meaning "son of Valdo," a name of Germanic origin meaning "strong ruler."
50. **Vargas**: From a place name, possibly meaning "valley" or "meadow."
51. **Vázquez**: Meaning "son of Vasco," a name of Basque origin meaning "strong" or "vigorous."
52. **Vega**: Meaning "meadow" or "valley," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
53. **Velasco**: Meaning "veil" or "blanket," possibly referring to a person's occupation or a place name.
54. **Vicente**: Meaning "victor" or "conqueror," possibly referring to a person's character or achievements.
55. **Villa**: Meaning "town" or "village," possibly referring to a person's occupation or a place name.
56. **Villanueva**: Meaning "new town" or "new village," possibly referring to a place name.
57. **Zapata**: Meaning "shoe" or "boot," possibly referring to a person's occupation or a place name.
58. **Zúñiga**: From a place name, possibly meaning "place of juniper trees."
59. **Acosta**: Meaning "one who lives on a hill" or "high place."
60. **Aguilar**: Meaning "eagle's nest," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
61. **Arroyo**: Meaning "stream" or "brook," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
62. **Bustamante**: Meaning "thick forest" or "woodland."
63. **Carmona**: Meaning "alder tree," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
64. **Castañeda**: Meaning "chestnut grove," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
65. **Conde**: Meaning "count" or "nobleman," possibly referring to a person's social standing.
66. **Crespo**: Meaning "curly-haired," possibly referring to a person's physical characteristic.
67. **Espinoza**: Meaning "thorn bush," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
68. **Figueroa**: Meaning "fig tree," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
69. **Gallego**: From a place name, meaning "one who is from Galicia," a region in Spain.
70. **Gómez**: Meaning "son of Gomo," a name of Germanic origin meaning "brave protector."
71. **Hernández**: Meaning "son of Hernando," a name of Germanic origin meaning "strong ruler."
72. **Iglesias**: Meaning "churches," possibly referring to a person's occupation or a place name.
73. **Llanos**: Meaning "plains" or "flatlands," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
74. **Madrigal**: Meaning "little song" or "ballad," possibly referring to a person's talent or a place name.
75. **Martínez**: Meaning "son of Martín," a name of Latin origin meaning "warlike" or "devoted to Mars."
76. **Mejía**: From a place name, possibly meaning "place of good meadows."
77. **Molina**: Meaning "mill" or "millstone," possibly referring to a person's occupation or a place name.
78. **Montero**: Meaning "hunter," possibly referring to a person's occupation.
79. **Morales**: Meaning "moral" or "ethical," possibly referring to a person's character.
80. **Ochoa**: Meaning "eighth," possibly referring to a person's position in a family or a numerical reference.
81. **Pardo**: Meaning "brown" or "dark-skinned," possibly referring to a person's complexion.
82. **Pascual**: Meaning "Easter" or "Passover," possibly referring to a person's birthdate or religious beliefs.
83. **Quintero**: Meaning "one who sings" or "songbird," possibly referring to a person's talent.
84. **Rivas**: From a place name, possibly meaning "banks of a river."
85. **Rivera**: Meaning "riverbank" or "riverside," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
86. **Rojas**: Meaning "red" or "ruddy," possibly referring to a person's complexion or a geographical feature.
87. **Salazar**: From a place name, possibly meaning "place of willows" or "willow grove."
88. **Sandoval**: Meaning "sand hill," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
89. **Santiago**: Meaning "Saint James," a popular religious figure in Spain.
90. **Soler**: Meaning "sun," possibly referring to a person's character or a geographical feature.
91. **Soto**: Meaning "grove" or "woodland," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
92. **Suárez**: Meaning "son of Suarez," a name of Germanic origin meaning "pig hunter."
93. **Tena**: From a place name, possibly meaning "place of vines."
94. **Toledo**: From a place name, referring to the city of Toledo, known for its historical significance and cultural heritage.
95. **Valiente**: Meaning "brave" or "courageous," possibly referring to a person's character.
96. **Vallejo**: Meaning "valley" or "meadow," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
97. **Varela**: Meaning "little meadow" or "small valley," possibly referring to a geographical feature.
98. **Vargas**: From a place name, possibly meaning "valley" or "meadow."
99. **Vázquez**: Meaning "son of Vasco," a name of Basque origin meaning "strong" or "vigorous."
100. **Vidal**: Meaning "life" or "vital," possibly referring to a person's character or health.