Mexican Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

This article provides a comprehensive list of common Mexican last names, exploring their origins, meanings, and cultural significance. Mexican surnames often reflect the rich history and diverse heritage of the country, offering insights into family lineages, regional connections, and the influence of various cultures. From indigenous roots to Spanish colonial influences, these last names represent a tapestry of identities that make up the vibrant Mexican culture.
1. **Acevedo:** Meaning "place of the oaks" or "place where oaks abound."
2. **Acosta:** Meaning "place of the acacias" or "place where acacias grow."
3. **Aguilar:** Meaning "eagle's nest."
4. **Aguirre:** Meaning "water" or "spring."
5. **Alarcon:** Meaning "place of the falcon" or "falcon's nest."
6. **Alba:** Meaning "dawn" or "white."
7. **Aldana:** Meaning "place of the alders" or "place where alders grow."
8. **Alejandro:** Meaning "defender of mankind."
9. **Almazan:** Meaning "place of the mountain ash" or "place where mountain ash grows."
10. **Alvarez:** Meaning "son of Alvaro."
11. **Andrade:** Meaning "place of the laurel" or "place where laurel trees grow."
12. **Angeles:** Meaning "angels."
13. **Aragon:** Meaning "place of the Aragonese people."
14. **Arellano:** Meaning "place of the rock" or "place where there are rocks."
15. **Arias:** Meaning "of the air" or "from the air."
16. **Armenta:** Meaning "place of the armory" or "place where weapons are stored."
17. **Armendariz:** Meaning "place of the shepherd."
18. **Arroyo:** Meaning "stream" or "brook."
19. **Baca:** Meaning "place of the cows" or "cattle ranch."
20. **Balleza:** Meaning "place of the dance."
21. **Barajas:** Meaning "place of the brooms."
22. **Barcenas:** Meaning "place of the fences."
23. **Barron:** Meaning "man from the barony."
24. **Bautista:** Meaning "baptized."
25. **Beltran:** Meaning "son of Bertram" or "bright wolf."
26. **Benitez:** Meaning "son of Benito."
27. **Bernal:** Meaning "place of the barn" or "place where grain is stored."
28. **Betancourt:** Meaning "place of the white well."
29. **Blanco:** Meaning "white" or "fair."
30. **Bobadilla:** Meaning "place of the good well."
31. **Bolaños:** Meaning "place of the balls."
32. **Borja:** Meaning "place of the fortress."
33. **Cabrera:** Meaning "goat" or "mountain goat."
34. **Cadena:** Meaning "chain."
35. **Calderon:** Meaning "place of the cauldron."
36. **Calvillo:** Meaning "place of the bald one."
37. **Camacho:** Meaning "place of the straw."
38. **Campos:** Meaning "fields."
39. **Canales:** Meaning "channels" or "canals."
40. **Cardenas:** Meaning "place of the hinges."
41. **Carillo:** Meaning "small chariot" or "war chariot."
42. **Carmona:** Meaning "place of the carob tree."
43. **Castillo:** Meaning "castle."
44. **Castro:** Meaning "castle."
45. **Cervantes:** Meaning "servant of the deer."
46. **Chavez:** Meaning "house of the key."
47. **Chávez:** Meaning "house of the key."
48. **Cisneros:** Meaning "place of the swans."
49. **Covarrubias:** Meaning "place of the coves" or "place where coves are found."
50. **Cruz:** Meaning "cross."
51. **Delgado:** Meaning "thin" or "slender."
52. **Diaz:** Meaning "son of Diego."
53. **Dominguez:** Meaning "son of Domingo."
54. **Estrada:** Meaning "street."
55. **Espinoza:** Meaning "thorn bush."
56. **Espinosa:** Meaning "thorn bush."
57. **Farias:** Meaning "place of the meadows."
58. **Fernandez:** Meaning "son of Fernando."
59. **Flores:** Meaning "flowers."
60. **Fuentes:** Meaning "sources" or "springs."
61. **Garcia:** Meaning "son of Garcias."
62. **Garza:** Meaning "crane."
63. **Gómez:** Meaning "son of Gomo."
64. **Gonzalez:** Meaning "son of Gonzalo."
65. **Guerrero:** Meaning "warrior."
66. **Hernandez:** Meaning "son of Hernando."
67. **Herrera:** Meaning "ironworker" or "blacksmith."
68. **Jimenez:** Meaning "son of Jaime."
69. **Jaramillo:** Meaning "place of the jar."
70. **Lara:** Meaning "house" or "dwelling."
71. **Laureano:** Meaning "crowned with laurel."
72. **Leal:** Meaning "loyal" or "faithful."
73. **Leon:** Meaning "lion."
74. **Lopez:** Meaning "son of Lope."
75. **Loya:** Meaning "loyal" or "faithful."
76. **Macias:** Meaning "son of Macius."
77. **Madrid:** Meaning "place of the forest."
78. **Magallanes:** Meaning "place of the Magellan."
79. **Maldonado:** Meaning "badly named."
80. **Manrique:** Meaning "hand of the king."
81. **Marquez:** Meaning "marquis" or "nobleman."
82. **Martinez:** Meaning "son of Martin."
83. **Mendoza:** Meaning "place of the mountain."
84. **Meraz:** Meaning "sea" or "ocean."
85. **Michel:** Meaning "who is like God?"
86. **Miranda:** Meaning "place of the lookout" or "place where one can see far."
87. **Molina:** Meaning "place of the mill."
88. **Monroy:** Meaning "place of the king's horse."
89. **Mora:** Meaning "blackberry" or "mulberry."
90. **Morales:** Meaning "morality" or "ethics."
91. **Munoz:** Meaning "son of Muñoz."
92. **Nava:** Meaning "place of the ships."
93. **Navarro:** Meaning "sailor" or "navigator."
94. **Negrete:** Meaning "black" or "dark."
95. **Nieto:** Meaning "grandson."
96. **Noriega:** Meaning "place of the north."
97. **Ochoa:** Meaning "place of the eight" or "place with eight houses."
98. **Ojeda:** Meaning "place of the oak" or "place where oaks grow."
99. **Olivares:** Meaning "place of the olive trees."
100. **Ortega:** Meaning "bear."
101. **Ortiz:** Meaning "son of Ortiz."
102. **Orozco:** Meaning "place of the gold."
103. **Padilla:** Meaning "place of the little wall."
104. **Pacheco:** Meaning "place of the peace."
105. **Palacios:** Meaning "palaces."
106. **Pantoja:** Meaning "place of the bread."
107. **Paredes:** Meaning "walls."
108. **Parra:** Meaning "vineyard" or "grapevine."
109. **Pascual:** Meaning "Easter" or "resurrection."
110. **Patricio:** Meaning "nobleman" or "patrician."
111. **Perez:** Meaning "son of Pedro."
112. **Pineda:** Meaning "place of the pine trees."
113. **Pino:** Meaning "pine tree."
114. **Ponce:** Meaning "bridge."
115. **Portillo:** Meaning "little door" or "gate."
116. **Quezada:** Meaning "place of the cheese."
117. **Ramirez:** Meaning "son of Ramiro."
118. **Ramos:** Meaning "branches" or "twigs."
119. **Rangel:** Meaning "place of the sheepfold."
120. **Reyes:** Meaning "kings."
121. **Rivas:** Meaning "banks" or "shores."
122. **Rivera:** Meaning "riverbank."
123. **Robles:** Meaning "oaks."
124. **Rodriguez:** Meaning "son of Rodrigo."
125. **Rojo:** Meaning "red."
126. **Romero:** Meaning "pilgrim" or "wanderer."
127. **Romo:** Meaning "place of the broom."
128. **Rosales:** Meaning "place of the rose bushes."
129. **Rubio:** Meaning "blond" or "red-haired."
130. **Ruiz:** Meaning "son of Ruy."
131. **Salazar:** Meaning "place of the salt."
132. **Salinas:** Meaning "salt mines" or "place of the salt."
133. **Sanchez:** Meaning "son of Sancho."
134. **Sandoval:** Meaning "place of the holy valley."
135. **Santacruz:** Meaning "holy cross."
136. **Santiago:** Meaning "Saint James."
137. **Santos:** Meaning "saints."
138. **Saucedo:** Meaning "place of the willow trees."
139. **Sosa:** Meaning "place of the forest."
140. **Soto:** Meaning "forest."
141. **Suarez:** Meaning "son of Suarez."
142. **Tamayo:** Meaning "place of the Tamayo."
143. **Tellez:** Meaning "son of Tello."
144. **Teran:** Meaning "place of the land."
145. **Torres:** Meaning "towers."
146. **Valdez:** Meaning "son of Valde."
147. **Valencia:** Meaning "place of the wall" or "place where there are walls."
148. **Valenzuela:** Meaning "place of the small valley."
149. **Vargas:** Meaning "man from Vargas."
150. **Vasquez:** Meaning "son of Vasco."
151. **Velasquez:** Meaning "son of Velasquez."
152. **Venegas:** Meaning "place of the vineyards."
153. **Vera:** Meaning "true" or "authentic."
154. **Vergara:** Meaning "place of the green meadows."
155. **Viera:** Meaning "old man."
156. **Villa:** Meaning "town" or "village."
157. **Villanueva:** Meaning "new town."
158. **Villegas:** Meaning "place of the villas."
159. **Virgen:** Meaning "virgin."
160. **Vitela:** Meaning "calfskin" or "parchment."
161. **Zepeda:** Meaning "place of the sheep."
162. **Zurita:** Meaning "place of the left hand."