Mexican Last Names: A Guide to Common Surnames and Their Meanings

Looking for information on Mexican last names? You've come to the right place! This comprehensive guide explores some of the most common Mexican surnames and delves into their rich historical and cultural meanings. Whether you're researching your family history, exploring Mexican culture, or simply curious about the origins of these unique names, this list will provide valuable insights.
1. **Acosta:** From the Basque word "akosta," meaning "place of oaks."

2. **Aguilar:** Meaning "eagle's nest," this surname is derived from the Latin word "aquila."

3. **Alarcón:** A place name, derived from the Arabic word "al-qarn," meaning "the horn."

4. **Alvarez:** This surname originates from the Germanic name "Alfarius," meaning "elf counsel."

5. **Amaya:** A place name that may refer to a town in Spain or a Basque word meaning "meadow."

6. **Andrade:** From the Portuguese word "andrade," meaning "man of the moor."

7. **Anguiano:** This surname has a possible origin from the Latin word "anguis," meaning "snake."

8. **Aranda:** From the Basque word "arantza," meaning "thorn."

9. **Arias:** A place name, possibly derived from the Latin word "aria," meaning "air."

10. **Armendáriz:** A Basque surname meaning "oak of the meadow."

11. **Barrera:** From the Spanish word "barrera," meaning "barrier."

12. **Beltrán:** From the Germanic name "Baldric," meaning "brave ruler."

13. **Benítez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Benito."

14. **Brito:** Derived from the Latin word "britus," meaning "strong."

15. **Cabrera:** From the Spanish word "cabra," meaning "goat."

16. **Calderón:** A Spanish surname meaning "little cauldron."

17. **Camacho:** From the Spanish word "camacho," meaning "saddle."

18. **Campos:** A place name that may refer to fields or meadows.

19. **Canales:** From the Spanish word "canal," meaning "channel."

20. **Carrillo:** From the Spanish word "carrillo," meaning "cheek."

21. **Castillo:** From the Spanish word "castillo," meaning "castle."

22. **Cervantes:** A place name, possibly derived from the Latin word "cervus," meaning "deer."

23. **Chavez:** From the Spanish word "chave," meaning "key."

24. **Cortes:** From the Spanish word "corte," meaning "court."

25. **Cruz:** A Spanish surname meaning "cross."

26. **Diaz:** From the Spanish word "día," meaning "day."

27. **Domínguez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Domingo."

28. **Escobedo:** From the Spanish word "escoba," meaning "broom."

29. **Espinoza:** A Spanish surname meaning "thorn bush."

30. **Flores:** A Spanish surname meaning "flowers."

31. **Fuentes:** A place name meaning "fountains."

32. **García:** From the Germanic name "Gerricus," meaning "spear ruler."

33. **Gómez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Gómez."

34. **González:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Gonzalo."

35. **Hernandez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Hernando."

36. **Jiménez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Jaime."

37. **Juarez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Juarez."

38. **Lara:** From the Spanish word "lara," meaning "larva."

39. **Lopez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Lope."

40. **Macias:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Macias."

41. **Maldonado:** From the Spanish word "mal," meaning "bad," and "donado," meaning "given."

42. **Marquez:** A Spanish surname meaning "Marquis."

43. **Martinez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Martín."

44. **Medina:** A place name that may refer to a city in Saudi Arabia or a word for "meadow."

45. **Mendoza:** A place name, possibly derived from the Arabic word "al-mandū," meaning "the garden."

46. **Mercado:** From the Spanish word "mercado," meaning "market."

47. **Miranda:** From the Spanish word "mirar," meaning "to look."

48. **Montero:** From the Spanish word "montero," meaning "hunter."

49. **Morales:** A place name that may refer to a town in Spain or a word for "morals."

50. **Muñoz:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Muñoz."

51. **Navarro:** A place name, possibly derived from the Latin word "navarrus," meaning "from Navarre."

52. **Nieves:** A Spanish surname meaning "snow."

53. **Noriega:** A Spanish surname meaning "northern."

54. **Ochoa:** From the Basque word "otsoa," meaning "wolf."

55. **Ortega:** A place name, possibly derived from the Latin word "ortus," meaning "garden."

56. **Ortiz:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Ortiz."

57. **Orozco:** A place name, possibly derived from the Arabic word "al-waruq," meaning "the papers."

58. **Padilla:** A place name, possibly derived from the Latin word "patulus," meaning "open."

59. **Pacheco:** From the Spanish word "pachar," meaning "to fill."

60. **Palacios:** From the Spanish word "palacio," meaning "palace."

61. **Perez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Pedro."

62. **Pineda:** A place name, possibly derived from the Latin word "pinus," meaning "pine."

63. **Ponce:** A place name, possibly derived from the Latin word "pons," meaning "bridge."

64. **Quezada:** From the Spanish word "quezada," meaning "cheesecake."

65. **Ramírez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Ramiro."

66. **Reyes:** A Spanish surname meaning "kings."

67. **Rios:** From the Spanish word "río," meaning "river."

68. **Rodriguez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Rodrigo."

69. **Romero:** From the Spanish word "romero," meaning "rosemary."

70. **Romo:** From the Spanish word "romo," meaning "blunt."

71. **Salazar:** From the Spanish word "sal," meaning "salt," and "azar," meaning "chance."

72. **Sanchez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Sancho."

73. **Santos:** A Spanish surname meaning "saints."

74. **Santiago:** From the Spanish name "Santiago," meaning "Saint James."

75. **Sandoval:** A place name, possibly derived from the Arabic word "al-sanad," meaning "the support."

76. **Serrano:** From the Spanish word "sierra," meaning "mountain range."

77. **Silva:** From the Spanish word "silva," meaning "forest."

78. **Solís:** A place name, possibly derived from the Latin word "sol," meaning "sun."

79. **Torres:** From the Spanish word "torre," meaning "tower."

80. **Valdez:** A place name, possibly derived from the Latin word "vallis," meaning "valley."

81. **Valencia:** A place name, possibly derived from the Latin word "vallens," meaning "strong."

82. **Vargas:** A place name, possibly derived from the Latin word "varus," meaning "curved."

83. **Vasquez:** A Spanish surname meaning "son of Vasco."

84. **Vega:** A place name that may refer to a town in Spain or a word for "meadow."

85. **Velasquez:** From the Spanish word "velasco," meaning "sailor."

86. **Villarreal:** A place name meaning "royal village."

87. **Villa:** From the Spanish word "villa," meaning "town."

88. **Villanueva:** A place name meaning "new town."

89. **Zapata:** From the Spanish word "zapata," meaning "shoe."

90. **Zepeda:** A place name, possibly derived from the Latin word "zephyrus," meaning "west wind."