Mexican Last Names: Exploring the Rich History and Meanings

Looking for a unique and meaningful Mexican last name? You've come to the right place. Mexican last names, often called apellidos, are rich in history and cultural significance, often reflecting family heritage, place of origin, and even personal characteristics. This comprehensive list explores some of the most common and intriguing Mexican last names, providing insights into their origins and meanings. Whether you're researching your genealogy, seeking inspiration for a character in your story, or simply fascinated by the beauty of language, this guide will unveil the captivating stories behind these surnames.
1. **Acosta:** From the Basque word "akosta," meaning "high place."
2. **Aguilar:** Derived from the Latin word "aquila," meaning "eagle."
3. **Alarcón:** Meaning "falcon's nest," possibly referencing the location of its origin.
4. **Aldana:** A Basque surname, meaning "mountain pasture."
5. **Alvarado:** Originating from the Old Spanish word "alvar," meaning "white poplar."
6. **Alvarez:** A Spanish surname derived from the Germanic word "Alf," meaning "elf," and "rīc," meaning "powerful."
7. **Amaya:** A Basque surname that means "good place" or "pleasant place."
8. **Anaya:** A Basque surname, meaning "place of the river."
9. **Andrade:** Meaning "brave man" or "man of strength."
10. **Angulo:** A Spanish surname meaning "angle," likely referring to a geographical feature or a coat of arms.
11. **Aranda:** A Spanish surname that means "sandy place."
12. **Arias:** From the Latin word "arius," meaning "air" or "atmosphere."
13. **Armendariz:** A Basque surname, meaning "place of the sheep."
14. **Arredondo:** A Basque surname meaning "round place."
15. **Avila:** From the Spanish word "ávila," meaning "bird of prey."
16. **Baca:** A Spanish surname meaning "cow."
17. **Báez:** Derived from the Basque word "baiz," meaning "place where the river flows."
18. **Balderas:** From the Spanish word "balde," meaning "bucket," possibly referring to a profession.
19. **Barrera:** A Spanish surname meaning "barrier" or "fence."
20. **Bautista:** From the Latin word "baptista," meaning "baptizer."
21. **Beltran:** A Basque surname, meaning "beautiful wolf."
22. **Benavides:** Derived from the Spanish word "benavides," meaning "good vines."
23. **Bermudez:** A Spanish surname meaning "mountain of the goat."
24. **Blanco:** From the Spanish word "blanco," meaning "white."
25. **Bonilla:** A Spanish surname meaning "pretty" or "beautiful."
26. **Borja:** A Spanish surname, meaning "castle."
27. **Cabrera:** Derived from the Spanish word "cabra," meaning "goat."
28. **Cadena:** From the Spanish word "cadena," meaning "chain."
29. **Calderon:** A Spanish surname, meaning "kettle" or "cauldron."
30. **Calvo:** From the Spanish word "calvo," meaning "bald."
31. **Camacho:** A Spanish surname, possibly derived from the Arabic word "qamac," meaning "tunic."
32. **Campos:** A Spanish surname meaning "fields."
33. **Canales:** From the Spanish word "canal," meaning "channel."
34. **Cantu:** Derived from the Spanish word "canto," meaning "song" or "chant."
35. **Carbajal:** A Spanish surname meaning "oak grove."
36. **Carrasco:** A Spanish surname meaning "butcher."
37. **Castillo:** From the Spanish word "castillo," meaning "castle."
38. **Cervantes:** A Spanish surname, possibly derived from the Latin word "cervus," meaning "deer."
39. **Chavez:** From the Spanish word "chaves," meaning "keys."
40. **Cisneros:** A Spanish surname meaning "ash tree."
41. **Covarrubias:** From the Spanish word "covarrubias," meaning "rubies of the cave."
42. **Cruz:** From the Spanish word "cruz," meaning "cross."
43. **Delgado:** From the Spanish word "delgado," meaning "thin" or "slender."
44. **Diaz:** A Spanish surname meaning "day."
45. **Dominguez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Domingo."
46. **Espinoza:** From the Spanish word "espina," meaning "thorn."
47. **Flores:** From the Spanish word "flor," meaning "flower."
48. **Fuentes:** A Spanish surname meaning "fountains."
49. **Garcia:** From the Spanish word "garcía," meaning "noble warrior."
50. **Garza:** A Spanish surname meaning "heron."
51. **Gutierrez:** From the Spanish word "gutierrez," meaning "son of Gutierrez."
52. **Hernandez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Hernando."
53. **Herrera:** From the Spanish word "herrera," meaning "ironworker."
54. **Jimenez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Jaime."
55. **Jaramillo:** A Spanish surname meaning "little rosemary."
56. **Jimenez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Jaime."
57. **Lara:** A Spanish surname meaning "home" or "dwelling."
58. **Lopez:** A Spanish surname meaning "wolf."
59. **Lujan:** From the Spanish word "lujan," meaning "place of the wolf."
60. **Macias:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Macius."
61. **Maldonado:** A Spanish surname meaning "badly named."
62. **Marquez:** From the Spanish word "marqués," meaning "marquis."
63. **Martinez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Martin."
64. **Mata:** A Spanish surname meaning "bush" or "shrub."
65. **Medina:** From the Spanish word "medina," meaning "city."
66. **Mendoza:** From the Spanish word "mendoza," meaning "mountain of gold."
67. **Mendez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Menendo."
68. **Meraz:** A Spanish surname, possibly derived from the Arabic word "maraz," meaning "sickly."
69. **Miranda:** From the Spanish word "mirar," meaning "to look" or "to see."
70. **Montero:** From the Spanish word "montero," meaning "hunter."
71. **Mora:** From the Spanish word "mora," meaning "mulberry."
72. **Morales:** A Spanish surname meaning "moral" or "ethical."
73. **Munoz:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Muñoz."
74. **Nava:** A Spanish surname meaning "ship" or "boat."
75. **Navarro:** A Spanish surname meaning "from Navarre."
76. **Negrete:** From the Spanish word "negrete," meaning "little black."
77. **Noriega:** A Spanish surname meaning "from Noriega."
78. **Nuñez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Nuño."
79. **Ochoa:** From the Spanish word "ocho," meaning "eight."
80. **Ortega:** From the Spanish word "ortega," meaning "bear."
81. **Otero:** From the Spanish word "otero," meaning "hill" or "ridge."
82. **Padilla:** A Spanish surname meaning "small field."
83. **Palacios:** From the Spanish word "palacio," meaning "palace."
84. **Pantoja:** A Spanish surname, possibly derived from the Arabic word "banta," meaning "beautiful."
85. **Pardo:** From the Spanish word "pardo," meaning "brown."
86. **Perez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Pedro."
87. **Phillips:** A Greek surname meaning "lover of horses."
88. **Ponce:** From the Spanish word "ponce," meaning "bridge."
89. **Portillo:** From the Spanish word "portillo," meaning "small door."
90. **Quezada:** A Spanish surname meaning "place of the oak."
91. **Ramirez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Ramiro."
92. **Ramos:** A Spanish surname meaning "branches."
93. **Reyes:** From the Spanish word "rey," meaning "king."
94. **Rivas:** From the Spanish word "rivas," meaning "riverbanks."
95. **Rivera:** From the Spanish word "rivera," meaning "river."
96. **Rodriguez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Rodrigo."
97. **Rojo:** From the Spanish word "rojo," meaning "red."
98. **Romero:** From the Spanish word "romero," meaning "rosemary."
99. **Romo:** A Spanish surname meaning "pilgrim."
100. **Salazar:** From the Spanish word "salazar," meaning "salt mine."
101. **Sanchez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Sancho."
102. **Sandoval:** From the Spanish word "sandoval," meaning "place of the sand."
103. **Santacruz:** From the Spanish words "santa" and "cruz," meaning "holy cross."
104. **Santiago:** From the Spanish word "santiago," meaning "Saint James."
105. **Santos:** From the Spanish word "santo," meaning "saint."
106. **Sarmiento:** From the Spanish word "sarmiento," meaning "branch" or "vine."
107. **Saucedo:** From the Spanish word "saucedo," meaning "place of the willow."
108. **Serna:** From the Spanish word "serna," meaning "meadow."
109. **Silva:** From the Spanish word "silva," meaning "forest."
110. **Solano:** From the Spanish word "solano," meaning "south wind."
111. **Soto:** From the Spanish word "soto," meaning "grove" or "wood."
112. **Suarez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Suarez."
113. **Torres:** From the Spanish word "torre," meaning "tower."
114. **Valdez:** From the Spanish word "valdes," meaning "valley of the king."
115. **Valencia:** From the Spanish word "valencia," meaning "strength."
116. **Valenzuela:** From the Spanish word "valenzuela," meaning "small valley."
117. **Vargas:** From the Spanish word "vargas," meaning "vineyards."
118. **Vasquez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Vasco."
119. **Vega:** From the Spanish word "vega," meaning "meadow."
120. **Velazquez:** From the Spanish word "velazquez," meaning "strong wolf."
121. **Velasco:** From the Spanish word "velasco," meaning "old wolf."
122. **Vela:** From the Spanish word "vela," meaning "sail."
123. **Vergara:** From the Spanish word "vergara," meaning "green valley."
124. **Villa:** From the Spanish word "villa," meaning "town" or "village."
125. **Villanueva:** From the Spanish words "villa" and "nueva," meaning "new town."
126. **Villegas:** From the Spanish word "villegas," meaning "place of the vineyards."
127. **Virgen:** From the Spanish word "virgen," meaning "virgin."
128. **Zambrano:** From the Spanish word "zambrano," meaning "olive tree."
129. **Zapata:** From the Spanish word "zapata," meaning "shoe."
130. **Zaragoza:** From the Spanish word "zaragoza," meaning "place of the Saracen."
131. **Zepeda:** From the Spanish word "zepeda," meaning "place of the sheep."
132. **Zepeda:** From the Spanish word "zepeda," meaning "place of the sheep."
133. **Zuñiga:** From the Spanish word "zuñiga," meaning "place of the juniper."