Common Puerto Rican Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Looking for the most common last names in Puerto Rico? This guide offers a comprehensive list of surnames, including their origins and meanings. Understanding the etymology of Puerto Rican last names reveals a rich tapestry of cultural influences, spanning from Spanish roots to indigenous heritage and African ancestry. Dive in and discover the stories behind these enduring family names.
1. **Alvarado:** From the Spanish word "alvarado," meaning "whitened" or "brightened," possibly referring to a person with fair skin or living near a bright, white area.
2. **Andino:** Derived from the Spanish word "Andes," referring to the Andes Mountains in South America.
3. **Aponte:** From the Spanish word "apuntar," meaning "to aim" or "to point," possibly indicating a skilled archer or someone known for their accuracy.
4. **Arroyo:** From the Spanish word "arroyo," meaning "stream" or "brook," possibly referencing a location near a body of water.
5. **Ayala:** From the Spanish word "ayala," meaning "eagle," possibly symbolizing strength, freedom, or sharp eyesight.
6. **Barreto:** From the Spanish word "barreto," meaning "barge" or "raft," potentially indicating a person who worked on the water or lived near a harbor.
7. **Bautista:** From the Spanish word "bautista," meaning "baptizer," referring to someone who performs baptisms or has been baptized.
8. **Beltran:** From the Spanish word "beltran," meaning "bright" or "shining," likely referencing a person with a radiant personality or a bright appearance.
9. **Benitez:** From the Spanish word "benito," meaning "blessed" or "favored," possibly indicating a person considered lucky or favored by God.
10. **Berrios:** From the Spanish word "berrio," meaning "berry," possibly referencing a location with a grove of berries or a person known for their fondness of berries.
11. **Blanco:** From the Spanish word "blanco," meaning "white" or "blank," possibly referencing a person with fair skin or a white complexion.
12. **Bonilla:** From the Spanish word "bonilla," meaning "small good thing" or "pretty little thing," possibly indicating a person known for their charm or attractiveness.
13. **Burgos:** From the Spanish word "burgos," referring to a city or town in Spain.
14. **Cabrera:** From the Spanish word "cabra," meaning "goat," possibly referring to a location with a goat herd or a person known for their goat-like qualities.
15. **Calderon:** From the Spanish word "calderon," meaning "large cauldron," possibly referencing a person who worked with cauldrons or lived near a place where cauldrons were made.
16. **Cardenas:** From the Spanish word "cardena," meaning "purple" or "dark blue," potentially indicating a person with dark hair or eyes, or who lived in a place known for purple dye.
17. **Carrasquillo:** From the Spanish word "carrasquilla," meaning "a small oak tree," possibly referencing a place with oak trees or a person who worked with oak wood.
18. **Casillas:** From the Spanish word "casilla," meaning "small house" or "cabin," likely referencing a place where small houses were common or a person who lived in a small house.
19. **Castro:** From the Spanish word "castro," meaning "castle," possibly referencing a person who lived near a castle or who worked in a castle.
20. **Cepeda:** From the Spanish word "cepeda," meaning "a place with many brushes" or "a brushwood," possibly referencing a location with a lot of brush or a person who worked with brushes.
21. **Colon:** From the Spanish word "colon," meaning "column," possibly referencing a person who worked with columns or lived near a place with columns.
22. **Cordero:** From the Spanish word "cordero," meaning "lamb," possibly referencing a person who raised lambs or lived in a place where lambs were common.
23. **Cortez:** From the Spanish word "cortez," meaning "court" or "royal court," possibly referencing a person who worked in the royal court or who was part of the aristocracy.
24. **Crespo:** From the Spanish word "crespo," meaning "curly" or "wavy," possibly referencing a person with curly hair or who lived in a place known for curly hair.
25. **Diaz:** From the Spanish word "dia," meaning "day," possibly referencing a person who was born on a specific day of the year or who was known for their daily routines.
26. **Dominguez:** From the Spanish word "domingo," meaning "Sunday," possibly referencing a person who was born on a Sunday or who was associated with Sunday activities.
27. **Echevarria:** From the Spanish word "echevarria," meaning "a place with many hawthorn trees," possibly referencing a location with hawthorn trees or a person who worked with hawthorn wood.
28. **Espinosa:** From the Spanish word "espinosa," meaning "thorny" or "spiny," possibly referencing a person with a thorny personality or who lived in a place with thorns.
29. **Estrella:** From the Spanish word "estrella," meaning "star," possibly referencing a person who was born under a certain star sign or who was known for their star-like qualities.
30. **Fernandez:** From the Spanish word "fernandez," meaning "son of Fernando," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Fernando.
31. **Figueroa:** From the Spanish word "figueroa," meaning "fig tree," possibly referencing a person who worked with fig trees or who lived in a place with fig trees.
32. **Flores:** From the Spanish word "flor," meaning "flower," possibly referencing a person known for their beauty or who lived in a place with many flowers.
33. **Fonseca:** From the Spanish word "fonseca," meaning "spring" or "source of water," possibly referencing a person who lived near a spring or who worked with water sources.
34. **Garcia:** From the Spanish word "garcia," meaning "bear," possibly referencing a person who was known for their strength or who lived in a place where bears were common.
35. **Gonzalez:** From the Spanish word "gonzalez," meaning "son of Gonzalo," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Gonzalo.
36. **Guerrero:** From the Spanish word "guerrero," meaning "warrior," possibly referencing a person who was a warrior or who was known for their bravery.
37. **Hernandez:** From the Spanish word "hernandez," meaning "son of Hernando," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Hernando.
38. **Jimenez:** From the Spanish word "jimenez," meaning "son of Jaime," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Jaime.
39. **Lopez:** From the Spanish word "lobo," meaning "wolf," possibly referencing a person who was known for their strength or who lived in a place where wolves were common.
40. **Marquez:** From the Spanish word "marques," meaning "marquis," referencing a person who was a member of the aristocracy.
41. **Martinez:** From the Spanish word "martinez," meaning "son of Martin," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Martin.
42. **Melendez:** From the Spanish word "melendez," meaning "a place with honey" or "a honeyed place," possibly referencing a location known for its honey or a person who worked with honey.
43. **Mendez:** From the Spanish word "mendez," meaning "son of Mendo," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Mendo.
44. **Miranda:** From the Spanish word "mirar," meaning "to look" or "to observe," possibly referencing a person known for their keen observation or their ability to see things clearly.
45. **Montero:** From the Spanish word "montero," meaning "hunter" or "gamekeeper," possibly referencing a person who was a hunter or who worked in a place where hunting was common.
46. **Mora:** From the Spanish word "mora," meaning "mulberry," possibly referencing a person who lived in a place with mulberry trees or who worked with mulberries.
47. **Moreno:** From the Spanish word "moreno," meaning "dark" or "brown," possibly referencing a person with dark skin or hair, or who lived in a place with dark soil.
48. **Munoz:** From the Spanish word "munoz," meaning "son of Muño," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Muño.
49. **Nava:** From the Spanish word "nava," meaning "plain" or "valley," possibly referencing a person who lived in a valley or who worked in a plain.
50. **Nieves:** From the Spanish word "nieve," meaning "snow," possibly referencing a person who lived in a place with snow or who was born during a snowy season.
51. **Ortiz:** From the Spanish word "ortiz," meaning "son of Ortiz," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Ortiz.
52. **Padilla:** From the Spanish word "padilla," meaning "small paddle" or "small oar," possibly referencing a person who worked with boats or who lived near a place where boats were common.
53. **Pagan:** From the Spanish word "pagan," meaning "pagan," referring to a person who is not a Christian.
54. **Pantoja:** From the Spanish word "pantojo," meaning "large wicker basket," possibly referencing a person who worked with baskets or who lived in a place where baskets were common.
55. **Perez:** From the Spanish word "pedro," meaning "Peter," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Peter.
56. **Pina:** From the Spanish word "pina," meaning "pineapple," possibly referencing a person who worked with pineapples or who lived in a place where pineapples were common.
57. **Rivera:** From the Spanish word "rio," meaning "river," possibly referencing a person who lived near a river or who worked with rivers.
58. **Rodriguez:** From the Spanish word "rodriguez," meaning "son of Rodrigo," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Rodrigo.
59. **Roman:** From the Spanish word "romano," meaning "Roman," referencing a person who was of Roman descent or who was associated with Roman culture.
60. **Rosario:** From the Spanish word "rosario," meaning "rosary," referring to a string of beads used for prayer.
61. **Ruiz:** From the Spanish word "ruiz," meaning "red" or "ruddy," possibly referencing a person with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
62. **Salas:** From the Spanish word "sala," meaning "room" or "hall," possibly referencing a person who lived in a large house with many rooms or who worked in a room.
63. **Sanchez:** From the Spanish word "sanchez," meaning "son of Sancho," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Sancho.
64. **Santiago:** From the Spanish word "santiago," meaning "Saint James," referencing a person who was named after Saint James or who was associated with the Saint James pilgrimage.
65. **Santos:** From the Spanish word "santo," meaning "saint," referencing a person who was considered holy or who was associated with saints.
66. **Silva:** From the Spanish word "silva," meaning "forest," possibly referencing a person who lived in a forest or who worked with trees.
67. **Torres:** From the Spanish word "torre," meaning "tower," possibly referencing a person who lived near a tower or who worked in a tower.
68. **Valdez:** From the Spanish word "valdez," meaning "valley," possibly referencing a person who lived in a valley or who worked in a valley.
69. **Vargas:** From the Spanish word "vargas," meaning "a place with many reeds" or "a reed bed," possibly referencing a location with reeds or a person who worked with reeds.
70. **Vazquez:** From the Spanish word "vazquez," meaning "son of Vasco," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Vasco.
71. **Vega:** From the Spanish word "vega," meaning "meadow," possibly referencing a person who lived in a meadow or who worked in a meadow.
72. **Velasquez:** From the Spanish word "velazquez," meaning "small veil," possibly referencing a person who wore a veil or who lived in a place where veils were common.
73. **Vicente:** From the Spanish word "vicente," meaning "conquering" or "victorious," possibly referencing a person who was known for their victories or who lived in a place known for its conquests.
74. **Villa:** From the Spanish word "villa," meaning "village," possibly referencing a person who lived in a village or who worked in a village.
75. **Villanueva:** From the Spanish word "villanueva," meaning "new village," possibly referencing a person who lived in a newly founded village or who was associated with the founding of a village.
76. **Villar:** From the Spanish word "villar," meaning "a place with many vines" or "a vineyard," possibly referencing a location with vines or a person who worked with vines.
77. **Zapata:** From the Spanish word "zapata," meaning "shoe," possibly referencing a person who worked with shoes or who lived in a place where shoes were made.
78. **Zayas:** From the Spanish word "zayas," meaning "a place with many junipers" or "a juniper grove," possibly referencing a location with junipers or a person who worked with juniper wood.
79. **Colon:** From the Spanish word "colon," meaning "column," possibly referencing a person who worked with columns or lived near a place with columns.
80. **Ramos:** From the Spanish word "ramo," meaning "branch" or "bouquet," possibly referencing a person who worked with trees or who lived near a place with trees.
81. **Rodriguez:** From the Spanish word "rodriguez," meaning "son of Rodrigo," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Rodrigo.
82. **Rivera:** From the Spanish word "rio," meaning "river," possibly referencing a person who lived near a river or who worked with rivers.
83. **Rosario:** From the Spanish word "rosario," meaning "rosary," referring to a string of beads used for prayer.
84. **Ruiz:** From the Spanish word "ruiz," meaning "red" or "ruddy," possibly referencing a person with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
85. **Salas:** From the Spanish word "sala," meaning "room" or "hall," possibly referencing a person who lived in a large house with many rooms or who worked in a room.
86. **Sanchez:** From the Spanish word "sanchez," meaning "son of Sancho," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Sancho.
87. **Santiago:** From the Spanish word "santiago," meaning "Saint James," referencing a person who was named after Saint James or who was associated with the Saint James pilgrimage.
88. **Santos:** From the Spanish word "santo," meaning "saint," referencing a person who was considered holy or who was associated with saints.
89. **Silva:** From the Spanish word "silva," meaning "forest," possibly referencing a person who lived in a forest or who worked with trees.
90. **Torres:** From the Spanish word "torre," meaning "tower," possibly referencing a person who lived near a tower or who worked in a tower.
91. **Valdez:** From the Spanish word "valdez," meaning "valley," possibly referencing a person who lived in a valley or who worked in a valley.
92. **Vargas:** From the Spanish word "vargas," meaning "a place with many reeds" or "a reed bed," possibly referencing a location with reeds or a person who worked with reeds.
93. **Vazquez:** From the Spanish word "vazquez," meaning "son of Vasco," referencing a person who is a descendant of the name Vasco.
94. **Vega:** From the Spanish word "vega," meaning "meadow," possibly referencing a person who lived in a meadow or who worked in a meadow.
95. **Velasquez:** From the Spanish word "velazquez," meaning "small veil," possibly referencing a person who wore a veil or who lived in a place where veils were common.
96. **Vicente:** From the Spanish word "vicente," meaning "conquering" or "victorious," possibly referencing a person who was known for their victories or who lived in a place known for its conquests.
97. **Villa:** From the Spanish word "villa," meaning "village," possibly referencing a person who lived in a village or who worked in a village.
98. **Villanueva:** From the Spanish word "villanueva," meaning "new village," possibly referencing a person who lived in a newly founded village or who was associated with the founding of a village.
99. **Villar:** From the Spanish word "villar," meaning "a place with many vines" or "a vineyard," possibly referencing a location with vines or a person who worked with vines.
100. **Zapata:** From the Spanish word "zapata," meaning "shoe," possibly referencing a person who worked with shoes or who lived in a place where shoes were made.
101. **Zayas:** From the Spanish word "zayas," meaning "a place with many junipers" or "a juniper grove," possibly referencing a location with junipers or a person who worked with juniper wood.