120+ Popular Dominican Last Names or Surnames & Their Meanings

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Dominican last names tell a story—of ancestry, migration, and cultural blending. The Dominican Republic’s rich history, shaped by Indigenous Taíno roots, Spanish colonization, African heritage, and even some French and Haitian influences, has given rise to a diverse collection of surnames.

Whether you’re exploring your family history, curious about Dominican culture, or just love names, this list will guide you through the most common and meaningful Dominican surnames, categorized by their origins.

Spanish Origins

The majority of Dominican last names come from Spain, reflecting the country’s colonial past. Many of these surnames are patronymic (derived from a father’s name), occupational, or descriptive.

Patronymic Surnames (Derived from First Names)

  1. Rodríguez – “Son of Rodrigo”
  2. González – “Son of Gonzalo”
  3. Martínez – “Son of Martín”
  4. Hernández – “Son of Hernando”
  5. López – “Son of Lope”
  6. Pérez – “Son of Pedro”
  7. García – Possibly “bear” or “young” in Basque
  8. Fernández – “Son of Fernando”
  9. Díaz – “Son of Diego”
  10. Ramírez – “Son of Ramiro”

Occupational Surnames

  1. Herrera – “Blacksmith” or “ironworker”
  2. Molina – “Mill worker”
  3. Zapata – “Shoemaker”
  4. Carpintero – “Carpenter”
  5. Pastor – “Shepherd”
  6. Marín – “Sailor” or “seafarer”
  7. Cabrera – “Goat herder”
  8. Vargas – Possibly “hut” or related to herding

Geographical Surnames (Based on Places)

  1. Castillo – “Castle”
  2. Rojas – “Red,” possibly from a place with red soil
  3. Montes – “Mountains”
  4. Delgado – “Thin” or “slender”
  5. Vega – “Meadow”
  6. Ríos – “Rivers”
  7. Sierra – “Mountain range”
  8. Peña – “Rock” or “cliff”

Descriptive Surnames

  1. Blanco – “White”
  2. Moreno – “Dark-skinned” or “brunette”
  3. Rubio – “Blonde”
  4. Alvarado – Possibly “guardian of all”

Taíno & Indigenous Influences

Though many Indigenous Taíno names faded due to colonization, some Dominican surnames still reflect this heritage.

  1. Guerrero – “Warrior” (though Spanish, it may have been adopted by Indigenous fighters)
  2. Marte – Possibly linked to Indigenous resistance leaders
  3. Caonabo – Named after a famous Taíno cacique (chief)
  4. Anacaona – A rare surname honoring the Taíno queen

African Roots & Creole Influences

Due to the transatlantic slave trade, many Dominicans carry surnames of African origin or those that evolved during colonial times.

  1. Jean – French influence (common in border regions)
  2. Báez – Possibly of African or Sephardic Jewish origin
  3. Pichardo – May have African or Spanish roots
  4. Núñez – Common among Afro-Dominicans
  5. Santana – Widespread among enslaved and freed communities

French & Haitian Influences

Due to historical ties with Haiti and French colonization, some Dominican surnames have French roots.

  1. Dupont – “From the bridge”
  2. Fontaine – “Fountain”
  3. Lambert – “Bright land”
  4. Boyer – “Ox herder”
  5. Noel – “Christmas” (common in border regions)

Religious & Saint-Inspired Surnames

Many Dominican surnames reference saints or religious concepts.

  1. Santo – “Saint”
  2. Cruz – “Cross”
  3. Rosario – “Rosary”
  4. de Jesús – “Of Jesus”
  5. de los Santos – “Of the saints”
  6. Espíritu – “Spirit” (rare but meaningful)

Unique & Less Common Dominican Surnames

Some surnames stand out for their rarity or fascinating meanings.

  1. Almonte – Possibly “from the mountain”
  2. Bisonó – A uniquely Dominican surname
  3. Cabral – Linked to Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral
  4. De León – “Of the lion”
  5. Ferreras – “Ironworker”
  6. Jiménez – “Son of Jimeno”
  7. Lora – “Parrot” or “talkative”
  8. Mejía – Possibly “middle” or “central”
  9. Montero – “Hunter”
  10. Quezada – Possibly from a place name

Full List of 120+ Dominican Last Names

Here’s an extended list (without meanings for brevity):

  1. Acosta
  2. Álvarez
  3. Amador
  4. Arias
  5. Beltré
  6. Brito
  7. Bueno
  8. Burgos
  9. Camacho
  10. Caminero
  11. Campusano
  12. Céspedes
  13. Collado
  14. Corporán
  15. De la Cruz
  16. De la Rosa
  17. De Oleo
  18. Disla
  19. Encarnación
  20. Estrella
  21. Feliz
  22. Franco
  23. Galván
  24. Guzmán
  25. Infante
  26. Jiminian
  27. Lebrón
  28. Lizardo
  29. Lluberes
  30. Matos
  31. Medrano
  32. Mella
  33. Mercedes
  34. Mota
  35. Nova
  36. Olivares
  37. Ortega
  38. Ozuna
  39. Paulino
  40. Peguero
  41. Polanco
  42. Puello
  43. Reynoso
  44. Rivas
  45. Romero
  46. Rosario
  47. Salcedo
  48. Sánchez
  49. Santelises
  50. Suero
  51. Taveras
  52. Tejada
  53. Terrero
  54. Toribio
  55. Valdez
  56. Valenzuela
  57. Ventura
  58. Villalona
  59. Ynoa
  60. Zabala

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Final Thoughts

Dominican surnames are a beautiful mix of histories—Spanish, African, Indigenous, and beyond. Whether your last name is Rodríguez, Santana, or something uniquely Dominican like Bisonó, each name carries a legacy worth exploring.

Do you recognize any of these surnames in your family tree? Let us know in the comments!

¡Hasta luego! 🇩🇴

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