Spanish last names carry rich histories, reflecting occupations, geography, ancestry, and even personal traits.
Whether you’re researching your family tree, naming a character in a story, or just curious about Spanish heritage, this list will guide you through the most common surnames and their fascinating origins.
Let’s explore these names by category:
Patronymic & Matronymic Surnames (Derived from First Names)
These surnames originated from a father’s or ancestor’s given name, often with added suffixes like -ez, -az, -iz, or -oz, meaning “son of.”
- González – Son of Gonzalo (from the Germanic name Gundisalv, meaning “battle” + “safe”).
- Rodríguez – Son of Rodrigo (from Roderick, meaning “famous power”).
- Martínez – Son of Martín (from Martinus, meaning “warlike” or “of Mars”).
- López – Son of Lope (from Latin lupus, meaning “wolf”).
- Hernández – Son of Hernando (Spanish form of Ferdinand, meaning “bold voyager”).
- Sánchez – Son of Sancho (from Latin sanctius, meaning “holy”).
- Díaz – Son of Diego (from Didacus, possibly meaning “teaching”).
- Pérez – Son of Pedro (from Peter, meaning “rock”).
- García – Possibly from Basque gartzea, meaning “bear.”
- Fernández – Son of Fernando (another form of Ferdinand).
Occupational Surnames
These last names were derived from a person’s job or trade.
- Herrera – Means “ironworker” or “blacksmith.”
- Zapatero – Means “shoemaker.”
- Molina – Refers to a miller or someone who worked at a mill.
- Pastor – Means “shepherd.”
- Sastre – Means “tailor.”
- Carpintero – Means “carpenter.”
- Pescador – Means “fisherman.”
- Herrero – Another variant meaning “blacksmith.”
- Caballero – Means “knight” or “horseman.”
- Molero – Refers to a miller or someone who sold flour.
Geographical & Topographical Surnames
These names come from places, landscapes, or natural features.
- Del Río – Means “from the river.”
- Montes – Means “mountains.”
- Vega – Refers to a fertile plain or meadow.
- Serrano – Means “from the mountains” or “highlander.”
- Rivas – Means “riverbanks.”
- Castro – From Latin castrum, meaning “fortress.”
- Navarro – Means “from Navarre” (a region in Spain).
- Cortés – Originally referred to someone living near a royal court.
- Medina – Means “city” (from Arabic madīnah).
- Soto – Means “grove” or “small forest.”
Descriptive Surnames (Based on Traits or Appearance)
These names described a person’s physical or personality traits.
- Blanco – Means “white” (possibly referring to fair hair or complexion).
- Rubio – Means “blonde.”
- Moreno – Means “dark-haired” or “tanned.”
- Delgado – Means “thin” or “slender.”
- Bravo – Means “fierce” or “courageous.”
- Cortés – Means “polite” or “courteous.”
- Fuerte – Means “strong.”
- Largo – Means “tall” or “long.”
- Calvo – Means “bald.”
- Rico – Means “rich” or “wealthy.”
Religious & Virtue-Based Surnames
These names often reflected faith, blessings, or moral qualities.
- Santos – Means “saints.”
- Cruz – Means “cross.”
- Ángel – Means “angel.”
- Espíritu Santo – Means “Holy Spirit.”
- Dios – Means “God.”
- Salazar – From salus, meaning “salvation.”
- Paz – Means “peace.”
- Fe – Means “faith.”
- Amor – Means “love.”
- Esperanza – Means “hope.”
Nature-Inspired Surnames
These names come from plants, animals, or natural elements.
- Flores – Means “flowers.”
- Águila – Means “eagle.”
- León – Means “lion.”
- Torres – Means “towers.”
- Luna – Means “moon.”
- Sol – Means “sun.”
- Rosa – Means “rose.”
- Olivo – Means “olive tree.”
- Pino – Means “pine tree.”
- Viento – Means “wind.”
Noble & Aristocratic Surnames
Some names indicated noble lineage or land ownership.
- De la Torre – “Of the tower” (a noble family’s residence).
- De León – “Of León” (a royal lineage).
- De la Vega – “Of the meadow” (landowners).
- De la Cruz – “Of the cross” (sometimes linked to religious orders).
- De la Fuente – “Of the fountain” (indicating property).
- De la Rosa – “Of the rose” (a noble or poetic name).
- Del Castillo – “Of the castle.”
- De la Cerda – “Of the bristle” (a noble family name).
- De la Peña – “Of the rock” (indicating a stronghold).
- De la Calle – “Of the street” (sometimes linked to urban nobility).
Regional & Ethnic Surnames
These names indicated a family’s origin.
- Catalán – From Catalonia.
- Gallego – From Galicia.
- Vasco – From the Basque Country.
- Andaluz – From Andalusia.
- Aragonés – From Aragon.
- Castellano – From Castile.
- Extremeño – From Extremadura.
- Valenciano – From Valencia.
- Asturiano – From Asturias.
- Murciano – From Murcia.
Compound & Hyphenated Surnames
In Spanish culture, children inherit both parents’ surnames, leading to compound names.
- García-López
- Martínez-Cruz
- Fernández-González
- Rodríguez-Vega
- Sánchez-Moreno
- Díaz-Castro
- Pérez-Hernández
- Ruiz-Navarro
- Jiménez-Delgado
- Torres-Gómez
Unique & Less Common Spanish Surnames
Some surnames are rarer but still meaningful.
- Quijada – Means “jaw” (possibly a nickname).
- Alcázar – From Arabic al-qasr, meaning “the fortress.”
- Cisneros – From Latin cygnus, meaning “swan.”
- Benítez – Son of Benito (from Benedictus, meaning “blessed”).
- Gallegos – Refers to someone from Galicia.
- Méndez – Son of Mendo (short for Menendo).
- Velasco – From Basque belasko, meaning “raven.”
- Zamora – From the city of Zamora.
- Barragán – Means “young warrior.”
- Cervantes – Possibly from servantes, meaning “servant.”
Surnames with Arabic Influences
Due to Spain’s Moorish history, some surnames have Arabic roots.
- Alonso – From Arabic al-uns, meaning “friendliness.”
- Álvarez – Possibly from al-waris, meaning “heir.”
- Guerrero – From Arabic gharīr, meaning “young warrior.”
- Mendoza – From Basque mendi (mountain) + Arabic hotza (cold).
- Ojeda – From Arabic oxet, meaning “forest.”
- Quesada – From Arabic qasada, meaning “to aim.”
- Toledo – From Arabic Tulaytulah, the city’s Moorish name.
- Zaragoza – From Arabic Saraqusta, the old name for the city.
- Alcalá – From al-qal’a, meaning “the fortress.”
- Alcaraz – From Arabic al-karaz, meaning “the cherry.”
Surnames from Indigenous & Pre-Roman Influences
Some names trace back to ancient Iberian, Celtic, or Basque roots.
- Ibáñez – Son of Iván (from Basque Iban).
- Echeverría – Basque for “new house.”
- Urrutia – Basque for “distant.”
- Aguirre – Basque for “prominent place.”
- Ochoa – Basque form of Otsoa, meaning “wolf.”
- Goikoetxea – Basque for “upper house.”
- Arriaga – Basque for “stony place.”
- Zubizarreta – Basque for “old bridge.”
- Azcona – Possibly from Basque aitz (rock).
- Ibarra – Basque for “valley.”
Surnames from Jewish & Converso Origins
Some Spanish surnames hint at Sephardic Jewish heritage.
- Peralta – Possibly from Hebrew Peres Al Ta, meaning “break not.”
- Luna – A common Jewish surname.
- Levi/Levy – A Jewish priestly surname.
- Cohen – A Jewish priestly name.
- Benavides – From Hebrew ben (son) + avidan (destroyer).
- Abram – Variant of Abraham.
- Salomón – Spanish form of Solomon.
- De la Torre – Some Jewish families adopted this name.
- Espinoza – Possibly linked to Sephardic Jews.
- Mendoza – Some branches were of Jewish origin.
Surnames from Royal & Historical Figures
Certain names are tied to Spanish royalty or historical figures.
- Trastámara – A royal dynasty.
- Borbón – The Bourbon royal family.
- Habsburgo – The Habsburg dynasty.
- Cervantes – From Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote.
- El Cid – A legendary knight (though not a common surname).
- Isabel – From Queen Isabella I of Castile.
- Felipe – From King Philip II.
- Carlos – From King Charles I.
- Juana – From Juana la Loca (Joanna the Mad).
- Fernando – From King Ferdinand II.
Modern & Popular Spanish Surnames Today
These names remain widespread in Spain and Latin America.
- Gómez – Possibly from Gothic guma, meaning “man.”
- Ortega – From Basque ort (garden) + ega (place).
- Ramos – Means “branches” (possibly a Palm Sunday reference).
- Romero – Means “pilgrim” or “rosemary.”
- Suárez – Son of Suero (from Latin suerius).
- Mora – Means “mulberry” or “Moorish woman.”
- Vargas – Means “steep slope.”
- Campos – Means “fields.”
- Núñez – Son of Nuño (from Latin nonnus, meaning “ninth”).
- Iglesias – Means “churches.”
Rare & Unusual Spanish Surnames
Some names are less common but intriguing.
- Cifuentes – From cien fuentes, meaning “a hundred springs.”
- Bolaños – Possibly from bola (ball) or a place name.
- Barrios – Means “neighborhoods.”
- Alvarado – From albar (white) + ado (place).
- Castañeda – Means “chestnut grove.”
- Dueñas – Means “ladies” or “owners.”
- Galindo – Possibly from Germanic galind, meaning “high land.”
- Pacheco – Possibly from Basque pats (peace).
- Roldán – From Roland, the legendary knight.
- Zambrano – Possibly from Basque zain (guard) + barruan (inside).
Final Thoughts
Spanish surnames are like tiny time capsules, preserving history, culture, and family legacies. Whether your last name is García (the most common in Spain) or something rare like Zambrano, each has a story to tell.
Do you recognize any of these names in your family tree? Let us know in the comments!
¡Hasta luego!