1019+ Spanish Surnames: Meanings and Origins (Generator)

Spain is a southwest European nation with a population👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 of under 47 million.

However, due to their colonial past, a sizable section of South America and other regions worldwide🌍 speak Spanish, making it one of the world’s most widely spoken🗣️ languages. 

These nations clearly have different cultures, as evidenced by the usage of their respective languages and popular surnames.

The official method of registering and identifying people in Spain is through their Spanish surnames.

They consist of two surnames, the first surname of each parent and a given name, either simple or composite. The first surname is often that of the father👨🏻, and the second is typically that of the mother👩🏻. 

Most Common Spanish Surnames And Meanings

The most prevalent Spanish surnames reveal a universe of meanings. Exploring these surnames reveals the rich tapestry of Spanish ancestry and the ideals that have defined generations.

SurnamesMeanings
GarcíaDerived from the Basque word “gaztea,” meaning “young” or “junior”.
RodríguezDerived from the given name “Rodrigo,” meaning “famous ruler”.
GonzálezDerived from the given name “Gonzalo,” meaning “battle” or “war” + “peace”.
FernándezDerived from the given name “Fernando,” meaning “adventurous” or “brave”.
LópezDerived from the Latin word “lupus,” meaning “wolf”.
MartínezDerived from the given name “Martín,” meaning “warrior”.
SánchezDerived from the given name “Sancho,” meaning “holy” or “saintly”.
PérezDerived from the given name “Pedro,” meaning “rock” or “stone”.
GómezDerived from the given name “Gome,” meaning “man” or “human”.
TorresSpanish word meaning “towers” or “fortresses”.

Ortega

Castro

Silva

Herrera

Medina

Ríos

Lozano

Fuentes

Vega

Castillo

León

Mora

Soto

Serrano

Rivera

Pacheco

Padilla

Fun Fact:

Since 1999, the order of a family’s surnames has been chosen when the first child is registered; however, the conventional order is almost always desired (99.53% of the time).

Royal Spanish Surnames

Royal Spanish surnames carry a sense of grandeur and nobility, steeped in the rich history of Spain’s royal families.

These surnames often trace their origins back to illustrious lineages and are associated with power, prestige, and regal heritage.

  • Peralta
  • Escobar
  • Cárdenas
  • Montoya
  • Gallegos
  • Hidalgo
  • Peña
  • Rangel
  • Márquez
  • Solís
  • Rueda
  • Valencia
  • Miranda
  • Cisneros
  • Tapia
  • Del Río
  • Carmona
  • Cordero
  • Robles
  • Méndez

Cervantes

Calvo

Salas

Zamora

Montes

Benítez

Escudero

Del Castillo

Olvera

Pineda

Tovar

Alcalá

Carretero

Guevara

Osorio

Montalvo

Galán

Pantoja

Fun Fact:

A composite given name comprises two (or more) single names; for instance, Juan Pablo is not considered a single composite forename but rather a first and second forename.

Unique Spanish Surnames And Meanings For Girls

Spanish surnames for girls carry a deep sense of heritage and significance. Rooted in the cultural tapestry of the Spanish-speaking world, these surnames reflect the diverse histories and traditions of the region.

SurnamesMeanings
JiménezDerived from the given name “Jimeno,” meaning “hearkening” or “listener”.
RuizDerived from the Germanic word “hrod,” meaning “renowned” or “fame”.
RamírezDerived from the given name “Ramiro,” meaning “wise protector”.
MoralesDerived from the Latin word “moralis,” meaning “moral” or “ethical”.
NavarroIndicates a person from Navarre, a region in northern Spain.
VargasDerived from the Basque word “barga,” meaning “slope” or “hillside”.
RomeroDerived from the Spanish word “romero,” meaning “pilgrim” or “rosemary”.
MolinaSpanish word for “mill,” indicating a person who lived near a mill.
CamilaDerived from the given name “Perfect” or “attendant at religious ceremonies”.
CarolinaDerived from the given name “Free person” or “song of happiness”.

María

Isabella

Valentina

Lucia

Martina

Julia

Natalia

Emma

Sara

Olivia

Adriana

Andrea

Lola

Lourdes

Blanca

Carmen

Mireia

Belén

Raquel

Clara

Amalia

Jimena

Marta

Isabel

Fun Fact:

There have been legal exceptions to the need for all siblings to share the same surname order listed in the Registro Civil (civil registration), which has been a requirement of Spanish gender equality law since 1999.

Spanish Surnames For Boys

  • Salazar
  • Salgado
  • Segura
  • Solano
  • Sosa
  • Valdez
  • Vásquez
  • Vega
  • Velasco
  • Vélez
  • Vera
  • Verdugo
  • Villar
  • Zambrano
  • Zapata
  • Zavala
  • Zúñiga
  • Abreu
  • Alarcón
  • Alcaraz

Aldana

Almanza

Almeida

Alvarado

Ávila

Ayala

Balderas

Ballesteros

Barragán

Barrientos

Beltrán

Benavides

Cabrera

Campos

Carrasco

Casillas

Fun Fact:

The law of Spain also gives an individual a choice to change the order of their last names once they reach adulthood.

Spanish Surnames Generator

Spanish Surnames Generator

Spanish Surnames Generator: Discover the Meaning Behind Your Family Name

More to Read, More to Fun. Explore 👇 This Article.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are some examples of common Spanish surnames?

Among the most common Spanish surnames are Garca, Rodrguez, González, Fernández, López, Martnez, Sánchez, Pérez, Gómez, Torres, Jiménez, Romero, Morales, Ramrez, Navarro, and Vargas.

What is the origin of Spanish surnames?

Patronymic names (based on the father’s name), toponymic names (based on a place of origin), occupational names (based on occupations), and descriptive names (based on physical or personal traits) are all examples of Spanish surnames.

Can surnames in Spain change over time?

Surnames in Spain, like surnames in any other country, can vary through time due to a variety of factors such as linguistic shifts, historical influences, or personal preferences. Variations in spelling or pronunciation are possible.

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