Spain is a land rich in tradition and culture that are maintained today, living day by day with the technological vanguards that They drive today's society. One of those traditions is the surnames coming from Spain. A combination of all the different regions of the country and the influence of other parts of the world that mixed with it.
What are the most popular Spanish surnames?
In this article we will take an interesting walk through the 100 most common surnames in Spain that show the diversity of their culture and the traditional ones that are still maintained.
one. Garcia
It is the most popular surname in Spanish territory, it used to be used as a proper name, it comes from the Basque word 'artz or hartz' which means 'bear'.
2. Slim
It is a surname linked to a physical characteristic of the person, in this case it denotes his thinness or light weight. Later, it was used by his descendants as a surname.
3. Happiness
It is of toponymic origin and comes from the town of Alegría de Oria, from where it took its name and passed on to other places.
4. Vazquez
It is a patronymic Spanish surname meaning 'son of a Basque'; refers to the demonym of people from the Basque Country.
5. Lopez
Derived from the name 'Lope', which is usually related to the Latin term 'lupus' which means 'wolf'. It can also mean ‘son of Lope’.
6. Allende
Originally from Vizcaya, in Basque it means 'pasture or cereal field'.
7. Pain
Its meaning is 'rock or stone' and was used by individuals who lived near a cobbled terrain.
8. Hernandez
Derived from the name 'Hernando', it is related to 'Firthunands', a Germanic name meaning 'bold peacemaker'.
9. Amez
It has Spanish origin since it comes from the city of Ames in La Coruña and it spread to America during the last decades of the colony.
10. Cross
It comes from the Latin word 'crux', it began as a proper name and made reference to the death of Jesus Christ, later it was adopted as a patronymic surname.
eleven. Sanchez
It was derived from the name 'Sancho', which was widely used among the Hispanic population during the Middle Ages, and comes from the Roman god Sancus.
12. Echeverri
It is of Basque origin, it is made up of two words: 'Etxe' which means 'house' and 'Barri or Berri' which means 'new'. It is a variation of Echeverría.
13. Vidal
It was formed from the Latin proper name 'Vitalis', which means 'full of life'.
14. Martin
Surname derived from the Roman god of war, Mars. Therefore, it means 'consecrated to war' or 'consecrated to the God Mars'.
fifteen. Elizalde
Basque surname meaning 'next to the church'.
16. Fields
It comes from the Latin 'campus' which refers to a large piece of land that is outside the city. It is a geographical surname, to refer to those who lived in this place.
17. Castro
It comes from the Latin 'castrum' and that is how forts and cities that were protected by walls were known and was adopted by its inhabitants as a toponymic surname.
18. Ruiz
It is derived from the masculine name 'Rodrigo' which translates as 'he who is reputed to be powerful' or 'he who is rich in glory'.
19. Sources
This Spanish surname is considered toponymic, used to refer to people who lived near a natural or artificial water source.
twenty. Garate
It is a noble surname of Gipuzkoan and Navarre origin. It derives from the Basque word 'garat' which means 'step in height'.
twenty-one. Herrera
Emerged as an occupational surname as it referred to people who worked with metals. It comes from the Latin word 'ferrum' which means 'iron'.
22. Carrasco
Its origin comes from the vulgar name that was formerly given to the kermes oak, a shrub that is characterized by maintaining the green color of its leaves throughout the year.
23. Dark
Surname that comes from the Latin 'maurus' which translates as 'coming from Mauritania' and as 'dark-skinned or Moorish'.
24. Herce
The origin of the surname is found in the Riojan place name of the town of Herce and has several meanings: 'Communal lands', 'shore', 'edge' or 'corner'.
25. Núñez
Originated from the proper name 'Nuno or Nuño' together with the Hispanic suffix -ez meaning 'son of'. This surname is a variant of 'Nonius' which refers to the ninth child.
26. Muñoz
Comes from the Latin proper name 'Munio' which means 'fortify or create walls'. Together with the Hispanic suffix -oz it means 'son of Munio'.
27. Riquelme
It is of Germanic origin, which was introduced into the Spanish peninsula with Carlos I and Carlos V of Europe. It means ‘rich, helmet or protector’.
28. Churches
A very common surname among Spaniards, it was derived from the Latin term 'ecclesia'.
29. Gutierrez
It comes from one of the Hispanic forms that took the name 'W alter' and which means 'head of the army' or 'mighty warrior'.
30. Ortiz
It is the patronymic form adopted by the name 'Ortún or Fortún', it is one of the Hispanic variations of the masculine given name 'Fortunio' which in Latin means 'the lucky one'.
31. Mosquera
It is a surname of Galician origin. It comes from the word 'fly' which means 'strong or big person'.
32. To usually do
Has a French origin 'Solier' which means 'the one who lives in a house with a flat'.
33. Soto
Refers to a place on the banks of a river that has a small forest around it or abundant vegetation in the neighboring area.
3. 4. Lake
It is a Galician surname very widespread throughout the Iberian Peninsula, it derives from a place near a lake, but it is also believed that it comes from the term 'Lacos', which over time would become ' Lake'.
35. Vargas
It originated from the Cantabrian term 'varga' which means 'cabin or slope'.
36. Arismendi
It is a variant of a Basque surname that derives from two words: 'Haritz', which means 'oak', and 'mendi', which means 'mountain'.
37. Blond
It has its roots in the Latin word 'rubeus', a term that was used to refer to a person with light hair.
38. Navarrese
It is a toponymic surname related to the demonym of people from the province of Navarra. Its meaning is 'forest' or 'plain surrounded by mountains'.
39. Baigorria
It is an old surname, derived from the Basque language and means 'red river'.
40. Bravo
It described a personal characteristic, it refers to a violent or cruel person, then the definition of brave was taken.
41. Towers
It comes from the Latin ‘turris', it arose as a surname to indicate that a person came from a place where there were towers.
42. Barquin
Its origin may come from the term 'barquinero' which means 'large bellows used by blacksmiths'.
43. Fariñas
It comes from the Latin 'farnna' which refers to the powder obtained from grinding certain cereals.
44. Aguilar
It comes from the Latin word 'aguilare' and means 'eagle place' or 'place where eagles live'.
Four. Five. Carranza
It is a surname from the Canary Islands, it comes from the Basque 'Karrantza' and is considered a very old surname.
46. Quiroga
It is a variation of the name of a very common shrub in Galicia, called 'Queiruga', which is usually found in scrubland and in pine forest areas.
47. Benitez
It is derived from the proper name 'Benito' which in turn comes from 'Benedictus', which means 'the one who speaks well'.
48. Spout
It comes from the Latin word 'canus' which indicated the color of hair that has gray hair. It is also synonymous with mature or old.
49. Ulloa
Its name is believed to have come from the Ulla river that flows at the foot of a hill where several people lived.
fifty. Dominguez
It is a patronymic surname that comes from the male name 'Domingo', very popular in the Middle Ages due to the influence of Catholicism. It comes from the Latin term 'dominicus' which means 'of the Lord' or 'used for Sunday'.
51. Larrea
It is of Basque origin and refers to a pasture, meadow or prairie.
52. Paez
It is a patronymic surname of the name 'Paio', which is an abbreviated form of 'Pelaio or Pelayo', when accompanied by the suffix -ez, it means 'son of Pelayo'.
53. Vazquez
This is how people from the Basque Country were known and refers to their name. By adding the ending -ez, it becomes, 'son of Basque'.
54. Lizarraga
Its origin is Basque-Navarrese and means 'place of ash trees'.
55. Curly
Last name given to people with curly or wavy hair.
56. Mendoza
It is derived from the Basque 'Mendotza', which translates as 'cold mountain or cold mountain'.
57. Gil
It comes from the diminutive of 'Egidio' which is the Latin form of 'Aegidius' which means 'the protected or the chosen one'.
58. Montoya
It is of Alava origin and comes from the Basque word 'montoia' which means 'pasture site' or 'reed pasture'.
59. Ramirez
It comes from the masculine name 'Ramiro' and when joined to the suffix -ez means 'son of Ramiro'. Others say it is an adaptation of the medieval names Ranamers and translates as 'brilliant warrior'.
60. Ochoa
It is a Basque surname that comes from the term 'Otxoa or Otsoa' which means 'wolf'.
61. Ten
It is another version of the names Diego and Diago.
62. Zelaya
It comes from the Basque word 'zelaia' which translates as 'field or meadow'.
63. Highlander
It is considered a toponymic surname that derives from the word 'serra' which translates as 'sierra or mountain range'.
64. Urquiza
It is a surname that comes from 'Vizcaya' and refers to places where birch trees abound.
65. White
It is a nickname that was given to people whose skin, hair or beard color were white, in addition, it can refer to snow.
66. Valdovinos
It is a Spanish surname that is made up of 'Val' which means 'valley', 'do' which translates as 'del' and 'vinos', together meaning 'valley of wines' '.
67. Urquía
Variant of 'Urquiza' with a similar meaning.
68. Rosemary
Originated as a nickname applied to travelers from the Western or Roman Empire who had to pass through the Eastern or Byzantine Empire on their way to the holy land.
69. Alvarez
It is based on the Nordic name 'Álvaro' which together with the ending -ez means 'son of Álvaro'.
70. Saints
It was derived from the Christian holiday known as All Saints' Day.
71. Safe
Comes from the Latin 'securus', which was assigned to a child as an omen of survival. Similarly, it can be considered a place name for Segura, which is the name of a town and a river.
72. Alonso
It comes from the proper name 'Alfonso', derived from the Gothic 'Altfuns', which means 'always prepared for combat'.
73. Lush
From the nickname that means 'happy, gallant, graceful'.
74. Diaz
It is the patronymic of the name 'Diago', which comes from 'Ya'akov' which translates as 'held by the heel'.
75. Sagasti
Its origin is Basque, derived from 'sagar' which means 'apple or apple tree'.
76. Galician
Denotes the name of a person who lives in Galicia.
77. Suarez
Comes from the name 'Suaro' which can mean 'shoemaker, seamstress' or 'army of the south or sun'.
78. Jimenez
It is a surname that has evolved, it is believed that it came from the Hebrew name 'Simon'. Others say it is a variant of the Latin name 'Maximino' which became 'Ximeno' and later 'Jimeno'.
79. Lion
It is applied to call the inhabitants born in the ancient kingdom of León.
80. Castle
Comes from the word 'castellum' which means 'castle'. Very popular among the Romans and given to local lords or those who lived near that place.
81. Perez
Comes from the name 'Pedro', which in turn is derived from 'Petros' which means 'stone'.
82. Marquez
It is the patronymic of the name 'Marcos or Marco' and means 'consecrated to Mars'.
83. Cuts
Derived from the French 'curteis' which refers to a person with good manners, it is also believed to refer to a member of the nobility or court.
84. Gonzalez
It is one of the most common Spanish surnames and comes from the male name 'Gonzalo' which translates as 'disposed to fight' or 'ready for battle'.
85. Flowers
Surname of Iberian origin that derives from the Latin name 'Florus' with the same meaning, it can also come from the German name 'Fruela or Froyla' which translates as 'lord of these lands'.
86. Dark
It is a form of nickname given to people with dark skin.
87. Martinez
It is another patronymic surname that originated from the name Martin which comes from the Latin 'Martinus' which translates as 'of war'.
88. Mendez
It can come from the name 'Mendo' which means 'mountain or mount', likewise it originates from the diminutive of 'Hermenegildo' which means 'immense sacrifice'.
89. Medina
It is a surname of Arabic origin that comes from the homonymous word and which means 'city'.
90. Rodriguez
It comes from the proper name 'Rodrigo' which is a Hispanic variant of 'Hrodric' which means 'powerful by fame' or 'rich in glory'.
91. Bouquets
It has its root in the Latin word 'ramus' which refers to the secondary stems of plants with flowers and leaves, it also refers to ornamental arrangements. This surname was given to children born on Palm Sunday.
92. Sanz
Version of the name 'Sancho' which, in turn, refers to the Roman God 'Sancus', defender of loy alty.
93. Molina
Surname that denotes the work of a miller or that person who lived near a mill.
94. Echeverria
It comes from the Basque language and has the same meaning as Echeverri, since it is a variant of it.
95. Bald
It is derived from the Latin 'calvus' which means 'without hair'.
96. Cabrera
Surname that derives from the Latin word 'capraria' and means 'place of goats' or goatherd.
97. Vega
This surname comes from 'vaica', an Old Spanish word that became 'vega' and means 'low, flat and fertile ground'.
98. Gentleman
It was given to members who belonged to cavalries, later it was synonymous with hidalgo until it became a word that denotes a man of good education.
99. Santana
Surname given to Spanish knights of the Order of Santana who were devoted to the Virgin Mary.
100. Kings
Nickname given to people who worked for kings or in royal houses. Also denotes those born on Three Kings Day.