We love how a Spanish last name rolls off the tongue. And you'll find them everywhere, from Spain to Latin America to the Caribbean to North America. The names might be traditional or unique. They may represent a historical occupation of a person's ancestors, character traits, or geographic locales. Regardless of the roots and origins of a Spanish surname, they all have a common quality of beauty and a story behind them.
Popular Spanish Last Names
These last names are ones you will hear repeatedly should you ever visit Spain or any other country with a large Spanish presence. They are among the most popular Spanish last names in the world.
- García - Bear (accounts for about 5% of the Spanish population)
- Fernández - Son of Fernando
- González - Son of Gonzalo
- Rodríguez - Son of Rodrigo
- Lopez - Wolf
- Martinez - Son of Martino
- Sánchez - Son of Sancho
- Pérez - Son of Pedro
- Martín - Mars, the Roman god of fertility
- Gómez - Son of Gomes
- Ruiz - Famous ruler
- Hernández - Son of Hernando
- Jiménez - Son of Jimeno
-
Díaz - Son of Diego
Uncommon Spanish Last Names
While some Spanish last names are common throughout Spanish-centric regions, there are others that you'll rarely encounter. Surnames often change over time, creating rare names. Names are also considered unique due to their meaning. Some name definitions are interesting and unusual.
- Barato - Inexpensive
- Bigotes - Whiskers
- Cabezón - Big head
- Caldas - Hot springs
- Escarra - Left-handed
- Ladrón - Thief
- Lanzo - To throw
- Escobar- Broom
- Feo - Ugly
- Guerra - Quarrelsome person
- Mesías - Messiah
- Padilla - Small frying pan
- Quijada - Prominent jawline
- Sosa - Seaweed
- Tapia - Mudwall
- Tenedor - Fork
- Zacatenco - Edge of the grass
- Zalas - Hall
Spanish Last Names That Signify an Occupation
Many countries around the world have last names derived from a person's occupation, and Spain is no exception. Many last names reflect the jobs that people did centuries ago.
- Abarca - Maker
- Amo - Tutor
- Armendarez - Herdsman
- Ballesteros - Maker of crossbows
- Baro - Servant
- Basurto - Middle of the forest
- Botello - Maker of bottles
- Botero - Boat maker
- Caballero - Knight
- Carpintero - Carpenter
- Colon - Dove keepers
- Criado - Servant
- Escribano - Scribe
- Guardia - Guard
- Herrera - Iron worker
- Herrero - Blacksmith
- Marín - Sailor
- Molina - Miller
- Sarto - Tailor
- Vela - Watchman
- Verdugo - Butcher
Spanish Surnames That Stem From Nature and Geography
Many surnames are derived from specific places on Earth. These types of last names can come from regions or areas identified by landmarks, or they can signify aspects of nature, like plants, animals, and other natural elements.
- Aguado - Water
- Aguilar - Eagle
- Alamilla - Poplar or aspen tree
- Alcaraz - Cherry
- Aldana - Slope
- Azarolla - Fox
- Bover - Bull
- Calderon - Basin
- Cabrera - A place of goats
- Campo - Field
- Ciervo - Hunter
- Cruz- Dweller near a cross
- Cueva - Cave
- Flores - Flower
- Fonseca - Someone who lives near a dry spring
- Gallo - Rooster
- Garza - Heron
- Huerta - Garden
- Lago - Someone who lives by the lake
- Leon - Lion-like
- Montes - Someone living near a mountain
- Nocito - Walnut orchard
- Novar - Treeless plateau
- Olivárez - Someone living near an olive grove
- Olmeda - Stand of elm trees
- Ortega - Nettle plant
- Parilla - Vine
- Peña - Someone living near a cliff
- Prado - Meadow
- Raya - Someone living on the line between two towns
- Rivera - Riverbank
- Vasco - Crow
Spanish Last Names Ending in -Ez
Many Spanish surnames end in the letter combination "ez." This denotes the meaning "son of." In other cultures, different letter combinations signify the "son of" meaning. For example, in German and Scandinavian countries, the letter combinations "son" and "sen" were added to last names to decipher when someone was the son of another.
- Álvarez - Son of Álvar
- Domínguez - Son of Domingo
- Gutiérrez - Son of Gutierre
- Márquez - Son of Marcos
- Ramírez - Son of Ramiro
- Sáez - Son of Santo
- Suarez - Son of Suero
- Valdez - Son of Baldo
- Vázquez - Son of Vasco
- Velasquez - Son of Velasco
- Yáñez - Son of Juan
Surnames Full of Personality Traits and Characteristics
Does your last name allude to the quality of strength? Might it mean beauty and elegance? Maybe it is more literal, with a definition of a physical characteristic. Spanish last names sometimes point to personality traits, characteristics and qualities, and physical attributes.
- Aceves - Holly
- Alegria - Joyful
- Alonso - Noble
- Banderas - Flag bearer
- Barbero - Beard
- Bardales - Place covered with thorns
- Bello - Attractive
- Cabello - Covered in hair
- Cano - A person with white hair
- Clemente - Gentle
- Delgado - Someone who is thin
- Duran - Steadfast
- Felix - Lucky
- Florentino - Prosperous
- Moreno - A person with dark hair
- Neri - Black
- Pablo - Small
- Pinto - Colorful
- Rubio - Someone with light-colored hair
- Urbano - Elegant
What's in a Last Name?
The short answer is plenty, and often more than you may think initially. When looking at learning about your family heritage and your ancestry, last names are a great place to start the journey. They give insight into what your ancestors did and where and how they lived. The process of researching your last name can be a fascinating activity for a family and a great way to bond and understand your roots more deeply.
