100+ Mexican Last Names or Surnames With Meanings

Surnames are a kind of stamp that identifies where we come from. Our history and culture speak through our last names. Mexican surnames or last names follow a tradition where the first name is the father’s last name, and the surname is the mother’s last name. Some of the most common Mexican surnames are of Spanish origin, as Mexico is one of the most populous countries that speak Spanish. We decided to do the job for you and handpicked some of the popular,common,unique,rare and traditional Mexican last names for your perusal, showcasing their meanings, origins, and cultural importance to help you understand their lasting legacy.

Popular Mexican Last Names

From the vibrant landscapes of Mexico to the rich heritage, there are several popular Mexican surnames that are inspired just by that. Let’s take a look at the family names.

1. Abad

It comes from an Aramaic word that means “father”. It denotes the son of a priest.

2. Aguirre

This name has a Basque origin; it denotes an exposed prominent place.

3. Arellano

Arellano refers to a geographical location in the Navarre region of Spain. It is derived from the Latin name ‘Aurelianus,’ which means ‘farm or the estate of Aurelius.’

4. Becerra

The meaning of this Spanish surname is “heifer”. The famous Spanish painter and sculptor Gasper Becerra donned this surname.

5. Bernal

6. Bustos

It comes from a Latin word which means “oxen pasture”. It is also the name of towns in Italy and Spain.

7. Cardenas

Cardenas is a toponymic surname as it refers to a village in the community of La Rioja, Spain. Cardenas is the plural form of the feminine Cardeno, which means ‘purplish-blue.’

8. Castaneda

Castenada is a common geographical place in Spain. It is also a toponymic surname which comes from the Spanish word ‘castaña,’ meaning ‘chestnut.’

9. Cervantes

It seems to have come from old Spanish words, which either means “a servant” or “stag”.

10. De Jesus

This Spanish surname also has Brazilian and Portuguese origins. It means “of Jesus”.

11. Del Bosque

This is a topographical surname denoting someone who lived by the woods. It also means “of the forest”.

12. Dominguez

This is a patronymic last name for “son of Domingo”, or it derived from the Latin word Dominicus, meaning “belonging to the Lord”.

13. Escobar

Escobar means “broom” in Spanish. It could also be a geographical name for various cities like Escobar de Campos or Escobar de Polendos.

14. Espinoza

The surname Espinoza comes from the Spanish word espino, meaning “thorn” or “hawthorn bush.

16. Galaz

It has a Gaelic heritage, and it means “foreign help”.

17. Gallego

This is a regional name and refers to someone from Galicia.

18. Gonzales

This prestigious Spanish surname means “battle elf”.

19. Hernandez

It is a patronymic name meaning “son of Hernan”.

20. Ibanez

This means “son of Iban” in Spanish. It has Greek origins.

21. Ignacio

It has Spanish, Etruscan, and Latin origin. It means “fire” or “born from the fire”.

22. Jimenez

It is a patronymic name in Spain which means “son of Jimeno”.

23. Lobo

The name means “wolf”. It has Spanish and Portuguese origins.

24. Lozano

26. Marco Rubio

This is a descriptive name, and it means “Marco, the blonde”.

27. Martinez

It is derived from the name Martin, and it means “son of Martin”.

28. Mendoza

Mendoza means “cold mountain” or “mountain of coldness”, derived from Basque words mendi (mountain) and otz (cold).

29. Ochoa

34. Rivas

In Latin, this name means “banks of a river”.

35. Rosas

This name has Spanish origin, and it means “rose”.

36. Sanchez

This is a patronymic name meaning “son of Sancho”.

37. Torres

Torres is an ancient and common Spanish last name referring to “someone who lived near or in a tower”.

38. Valencia

This is a toponymical name for people from Valencia. It is a feminine form of the word valour, which means “courage”.

39. Vasquez

The name means “son of Vasco”. It comes from the Latin word “Velascus”.

40. Zarate

The name refers to people who live near the opening of a forest.

Common Mexican Surnames

Typical Mexican last names are impressive and majestic, often taken from family names, places, occupations, or descriptive surnames. This list of popular Mexican last names with meanings will give you a glimpse of their history and tradition and help you choose the right one for your little bundle of joy.

2. Alvarez

Alvarez is a patronymic Spanish surname meaning “son of Alvaro”.

3. Barrera

It denotes people who lived by fences. Its literal meaning is “barrier”. Apart from Spanish, it also has Portuguese and Italian roots.

4. Beltran

Beltran is a renowned Old Germanic name meaning “bright raven”.

5. Bravo

This means “courageous”. A few other meanings of this name are “wild” or “rough”. It has Spanish and Portuguese origins.

6. Cano

Cano is a popular surname taken from a nickname which means “white-haired”.

7. Carrillo

This Spanish name means “cheek”. Maybe people who had unique cheeks were given this name.

8. Castro

This name means “a castle” or “a fortress”. It originated in many places like Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Galicia. It is a topographic name.

9. Cisneros

This means “swan”. It is also a place in the province of Palencia.

10. De Leon

This majestic surname means “of the lion”. It originated in the city of Leon, which was a Jewish city since the 10th century.

11. Diaz

This name means “days” in Latin. It is supposed to have Jewish origins.

12. Escamilla

This name means “scale”, and it has Castilian origins.

13. Espina

It means “thorn” or “prickle”, and it denotes people who live near a bush.

14. Fernandez

The name means “the son of Fernando”. It is derived from a German word that means a brave traveller.

15. Franco

This name is derived from the word frank and refers to a tribe in Germany called Franks.

16. Gallardo

A name of Spanish origin, it means “joyous” or “cheerful”.

17. Garza

Garza is a habitational last name belonging to Basque and Galician roots. It means “dweller at the sign of the heron”.

18. Guzman

Guzman is a toponymic surname referring to people belonging to the Guzman village in the Burgos province of Spain.

19. Holguin

It has Spanish origin and means “to rest” or “to enjoy”.

20. Iglesias

It has Spanish, Greek, and Latin origins and means “churches”.

21. Jacinto

This means “hyacinth” in Portuguese and Spanish.

22. Leon

In Spanish, it means “lion”. It is also a toponymic name depicting people from the city of Leon.

23. Loyola

Loyola is the name of a place near the town of Azpeitia. In Basque, it means “mud”.

24. Luna

Luna is a common name for places in Spain. Luna as a surname is a toponym and is likely to refer to someone from the place called Luna.

25. Maldonado

It used to be a nickname in Spain which means “ill given”.

26. Marquez

It means “son of Marcus” in Spanish.

27. Mendez

A patronymic name which means “son of Mendo”.

28. Navarro

It is a geographical name for people from Navarre, a city in Spain. In Basque, it means “brown”.

29. Osorio

It means “wolf hunter”, and has Spanish or Basque origin.

30. Pantoja

This denotes people from the town of Pantoja in Spain.

31. Quinteiro

This name means “a yard” or “a farmstead” in Spanish.

32. Ramos

It has Latin and Spanish origins, and it means either “branch” or denotes someone who lives in a thickly wooded area.

33. Rios

It comes from the Spanish word Rio, which means “river”.

34. Romero

It comes from a Spanish word that means “pilgrim to Rome”.

35. Salinas

This is an occupational name in Spain for people who are salt workers.

36. Tellez

It either means “son of Tello” or “earth” in Spanish.

37. Valdez

It is a common patronymic name meaning “son of Baldo”. In German, it means “brave”.

38. Vazquez

Vazquez is a Spanish surname of Basque origin. You may find Vazquez families in Spain’s Castile region.

39. Vera

This is the name of a village near Almeria in Spain. It might have come from the Latin word abora, which means “border”.

40. Zuniga

This is the name of a place in Navarre province. In Basque, the word zuin means “cultivated land”.

Rare Mexican Last Names

Rare Mexican Surnames often carry stories tied to traditions, places, or professions. Each last name in Mexico has its own meaning and origin, reflecting how family identities were formed over time.

1. Alonso

This surname means “noble and ready” and has roots in Spain.

2. Bardales

The surname Bardales comes from Spain and is a locational surname.

3. Bigotes

The surname Bigotes comes from the Spanish word bigotes, which simply means “mustache.”

4. Calderon

The meaning is “cauldron” or “large kettle,” linked to metal workers.

5. Chavez

This surname means “keys” and is tied to the town of Chaves in Portugal.

6. Gallo

The surname Gallo has Spanish and Italian origin and means “rooster,” often given to families known for being lively or spirited.

7. Mata

It refers to a “bush” or “shrub” and described families near wooded areas.

8. Neri

The meaning is “black” or “dark,” used as a descriptive family name.

9. Ocampo

This surname means “the field” and was used for farming families.

10. Raya

Raya is a Spanish surname that means “line” or “stripe,” and its origin is tied to boundary markers or distinguishing traits.

Traditional Mexican Surnames

Traditional family names often carry a strong sense of heritage and culture. This list of Mexican last names and meanings highlights surnames rooted in history, each with a story to tell.

1. Abarca

Derived from Spanish, Abarca refers to a type of rustic sandal, symbolizing humble roots and craftsmanship.

2. Amo

A short surname of Spanish origin meaning “master” or “lord,” often linked with respect or authority.

3. Baro

Baro is tied to the Spanish word for “baron,” historically pointing to nobility or rank.

4. Bover

This surname comes from Catalan origins and relates to cattle herding or working with oxen.

5. Criado

Criado means “raised” or “brought up” in Spanish, sometimes associated with servants or those raised in a household.

6. Huerta

Huerta signifies “orchard” or “garden,” pointing to families connected with farming or fertile lands.

7. Mora

Mora comes from the Spanish word for “mulberry” and can also refer to someone from a place named Mora.

8. Muñoz

A patronymic surname meaning “son of Muño,” rooted in old Spanish given names.

9. Silva

Silva comes from Latin, meaning “forest” or “woodland,” and is tied to families living near wooded areas.

10. Solis

Solis is derived from the Spanish word sol, meaning “sun,” symbolizing warmth and brightness.

History of Mexican Family Names

Mexica was once home to Mayan and Aztecs, where there was no culture of the surname. After Spain’s colonisation of Mexico, the Spanish colonisers influenced the locals to adapt their surname culture. The most notable Mexican surnames are mostly from Spanish culture.

Mexican Surnames Tradition

Mexican surname tradition is quite different and unique compared to other culture’s name and surname traditions. Here are some key aspects of Mexican surname tradition:

1. Two Surnames

Unlike Westerners, Mexican surnames consist of two surnames: the first inherited from the father and the second inherited from the mother. The tradition originates from Spanish surname culture and is quite prevalent in Spanish-speaking countries.

2. Children’s Surnames

Mexican children take the first surname from both parents. For instance, the father’s first surname is ‘Lopez’ and the mother’s first surname is ‘Garcia.’ So, the child’s surname would be ‘Jose Guadalupe Lopez Garcia.’

FAQs

1. Are there any notable people with prominent Mexican surnames?

There are several notable people with prominent Mexican family names, such as the painter Frida Kahlo, the politician Vicente Fox, the singer and actress Naya Rivera, the musician Carlos Santana, the actor and producer Benicio Monserrate Rafael del Toro Sánchez, and the professional boxer Marco Antonio Barrera.

2. What are the most significant events in Mexican history that impact the way Mexican surnames are today?

The Spanish conquest of Mexico, the Mexican Revolution, and the implementation of civil registration in the 19th century are some major events in the history of Mexico that led to the development of Mexican surnames.

3. Do Mexican surnames have regional variations?

Yes, there are several common Mexican surnames that appear slightly changed or altered in pronunciation or spelling based on the religion. For instance, Gomez is the unaccented form of Gómez, whereas De la Cruz is a different version of Cruz.

Mexican last names were heavily influenced by their rich history and ancient civilisations like the Mayans and Olmecs. They have a touch of the indigenous population and Spanish colonisers. A typical Mexican last name can be cool when you choose the right one. We hope you found this list of popular Mexican names interesting and informative.

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