30+ fascinating Spanish last names/surnames and their meanings

Publish date: 2024-05-16

Many Spanish last names used today originated from medieval times when it became necessary to distinguish between people who possessed the same name. Today, there are a lot of Spanish surnames that hold meaning and have a deep backstory. What are the most common ones and the more unique ones?

In Spain, people usually have two surnames, which they inherit from their father and mother. Normally, the kid inherits the first surname out of the two that their father has, and the same happens with the mother's surname.

There are normally four common types of Spanish last names. They are classified as follows:

  • Patronymic and matronymic. It was invented to distinguish between two individuals who have the same name by using their father or mother's first name and adding a suffix to it, most frequently "ez" which means "son of." This is how some popular picks like Dominguez, Lopez, Ramirez, or Fernandez came to be.
  • Geographic places. There are common Spanish names that are derived from the place that the bearer comes from. Some examples include Serrano (highlander), Vega (meadow), or Mendoza (cold mountain).
  • Occupational. This variant normally originated from the job or trade that the bearer was busy with. For instance, Alcaldo was a mayor, Cavallero was a knight or a horseman, and Romero was a pilgrim.
  • Descriptive. Finally, this option was based on the physical features or qualities of a particular person. To provide some examples, Bravo was brave, Delgado was thin, and Moreno was brown-haired.

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    Common Spanish last names

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    READ ALSO: 50+ interesting African last names/surnames and their meanings

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    African surnames have a great history behind them, and they are significantly different from the most common ones used in other continents. You can check them out and get inspired.

    Source: Legit.ng

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