Top 100 Cuban Last Names or Surnames
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Our family names symbolize a personal history that goes back centuries. They are a stamp of social identity which gives an insight into a person’s physical traits, appearances, mannerisms, occupation, or place of origin. Keeping last names usually began after a naming ceremony to suit some babies’ first names. Sometimes last names were changed after the marriages of women. Knowing the meaning of a surname is essential as it can help match the ancestry of two given names and create a unique identity for a person. Some of the most common surnames are patronymic names passed down from the father’s name or a different male ancestor in the family. Topographic or geographical names come from place names, towns, and landscapes. For those interested in finding the origins of your surname, it’s time to spend some time researching the family history and discovering your roots. Cuba is the largest Caribbean island situated north of the Caribbean Sea. It is generally famous for its beautiful beaches, architectural gems, rum, cigars, and friendly people.
Cubans have surnames originating from Spain, Portugal, or Italy that are all rich and full of deep meaning. Though Spanish is the most popular language in Cuba, its inhabitants follow a unique naming tradition of compound names that carry their paternal and maternal family names as their last names. The man’s surname usually comes first. If one or both parents have compound surnames in their names, then their child’s surname may also be a combination of both compound surnames. Both are equally significant and are needed for registration on official documents like passports, travel, or identity documents. Cuban women do not change their last names after marriage. Many Cubans parents continue to follow the same tradition while deciding on a name for their children. Some Cuban last names evoke images of royalty and nobles. While others are rooted in nature, animal kingdom, related to location or profession. You don’t need to be a genealogist to trace back your Cuban surname origin or consider referring to popular Cuban last names that would help you choose one for your child. Parents looking to encourage curiosity in family history among their children and take pride in their family heritage can look for Cuban surnames from the list given below.
100 Cuban Surnames or Family Names with Meanings
Finding good surnames or family names with meanings can lend uniqueness to a given name. Some surnames are more widely used than others in Cuba. Here is a comprehensive list of some of Cuba’s most common Cuban last names!
1. Acosta
Derived from Portuguese and Spanish origin, Acosta means “one who lives by the coast or shore.”
2. Aldana
Derived from Basque origin, Aldana means “a place along a hillside” or “a place on a slope.”
3. Alvarez
Derived from Spanish origin, meaning “son of Alvaro” or “guardian.”
4. Amaral
Derived from Portuguese origin, Amaral means “vineyard.” It may have originated from the Latin’ amarus’, or “bitter,” which refers to the taste of wine.
5. Arce
Derived from Spanish origin, Arce means “stone.”
6. Arenas
Derived from Spanish origin, Arenas means “sand.”
7. Armas
Derived from Spanish origin, Armas means “weapons” or “arms.”
8. Arroyo
Derived from Spanish origin, Arroya means “a pathway or channel used for irrigation.”
9. Avila
Derived from Spanish origin, Avila means “a city dweller,” or “one who came from the town.”
10. Ayala
Derived from Basque origin, Ayala means “a pasture along a hill.”
11. Balmaseda
Derived from Basque and Spanish origin, Balmaseda means “a valley full of vineyards.”
12. Bartelemi
Derived from French origin, Bartelemi means “one who owns abundant land.”
13. Basilio
Derived from Italian and Portuguese origin, Basilio means “royal.” Traditionally, only those of high birth bore this surname.
14. Batista
This Greek surname means ‘to baptize.’
15. Bazan
Derived from Basque origin, Bazan means “brambles” or “a place of brambles.”
16. Beltran
Derived from German origin, Beltran means “bright raven.”
17. Bernal
Derived from Catalan and German origin, Bernal means “strong as a bear.”
18. Betancourt
Betancourt comes from the French “Bethencourt,” a Norman feudal holding.
19. Cabrera
Derived from the Latin word “capraria,” Cabrera refers to a ‘place full of goats.’
20. Castilla
Derived of Spanish origin, Castillo means ‘castle.’ Castilla has variations in Castro, Castello, and Castillo.
21. Cisnero
Derived from the Spanish word “cisnes”, Cisnero means ‘swan.’
22. Cuevas
Originated from the hilly border regions of Spain, Cuevas means “cave” or “caves.”
23. De la Fe
This surname means ‘a person of faith.’
24. Delfin
Derived from the Spanish surname of Italian origin, Delfin refers to ‘the majestic creature “dolphin.”
25. Delgado
Delgado was initially been bestowed as a nickname for a thin person. Delgado is derived from Spanish/Portuguese origin, which means “thin, slender.” The term originated from the Latin delicatus, meaning “dainty” or “exquisite.”
26. Despaigne
Despaigne refers to a person of Spain in French, where “de” means “of” and “spaigne” means “Spain.”
27. Destrade
Derived from Spanish origin, Destrade, means ‘a destined or paved path.’
28. Echevarria
Derived from the Basque language, Echevarria is a place name and surname from the Basque Country in Spain and France, meaning ‘the new house.’
29. Escalona
This habitational surname comes from Escalona in Toledo province or from Escalona Del Prado in Soria.
30. Escamilla
Derived from a diminutive of “escama”, Escamilla means ‘scale’ and ‘one who came from Escamilla (small bench) in Spain.
31. Escudero
This occupational name comes for a squire, a young man of good birth attendant on a knight, or shield-bearer. It comes from Medieval Latin scutarius, a derivative of Latin scutum’ shield’.
32. Espino
This family name comes from one of several places named Espinosa in Spain, including Galicia and Vascongadas. Hence, this Spanish topographic name refers to ‘someone living by a hawthorn’ or ‘in an area characterized by hawthorns, espino’ that may have been the ancient homeland of the Spanish people.
33. Esquievel
Originally spelled Ezkibel, Esquievel comes from the Basque words Ezki, which means lime tree, and Gibel, which means behind. Therefore, Esquivel means ‘the house behind the lime trees.’
34. Estevez
Estevez is a patronymic surname in English from a Galician (Spanish) family name. It means ‘son of Stephen’ in Galician Estevo. Its equivalents are Esteves in Portuguese, Di Stefano in Italian, or Estébanez in Spanish.
35. Estrada
Estrada comes from Latin state, which comes from sterner meaning ‘to strew or cover’), denoting ‘a paved way.’
36. Euseblo
This Spanish and Portuguese name comes from Eusébio or Eusebio, which comes from Greek Eusebios meaning ‘revered,’ from EU- ‘good,’ ‘well’ a derivative of sebesthai ‘to honor,’ ‘respect.’
37. Facundo
This Spanish and Portuguese surname comes from the personal name Facundo which in turn comes from Latin facundus, meaning ‘talkative’ or ‘eloquent.’
38. Felipe
Felipe is the Spanish variant of the name Philip, which comes from the Greek adjective Philippos, meaning “friend of horses.”
39. Fermin
Derived from French origin, Fermin means “strong.” Fermin was an ancient saint, a legendary holy man, and a martyr who is the patron saint of Pamplona in Navarre, Spain.
40. Fernandez
Derived from Spanish origin, Fernandez means “son of Fernando’ or “brave voyager.”
41. Flores
Derived from the name Floro, Flores means “flower,” which originates from the Latin flos.
42. Florida
This surname comes from the Spanish name for ‘flowery, covered with flowers, or ‘abounding in flowers.’
43. Fredrick
Derived from English origin, Fredrick is a compound surname that comes from the root words for “peace” and “strength” or “power.”
44. Gerardo
Derived from Spanish origin, Gerardo means ‘Spear Brave.’
45. Gomez
Derived from the Visigothic word ‘guma,’ Gomez is a common Spanish patronymic surname meaning “son of Gome’ or “man.”
46. Gordon
This Scottish habitational name comes from a place in Berwickshire (Borders). It comes from Welsh gor ‘spacious’ din ‘fort.’ Derived from Norman origin; this French habitational name comes from Gourdon in Saône-et-Loire. This Gallo-Roman personal name Gordus the locative suffix -o, -onis.
47. Graciano
Derived from Italian origin, Graciano means ‘beloved’ or ‘dear.’
48. Granados
Granados is a nickname that comes from the Spanish Granado ‘mature,’ ‘experienced,’ and ‘distinguished.’ It is also a topographic or metonymic occupational name for a grower or seller of pomegranates, from Granado meaning’ pomegranate tree.’
49. Guerra
Guerra is a Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian nickname for a belligerent person or a soldier from guerra’ war’.
50. Hernandez
This Spanish surname means ‘son of Hernando,’ a version of Fernando meaning ‘a courageous voyager.’
51. Ibarra
Ibarra means ‘a valley’ in Basque.
52. Iglesias
Iglesias means ‘churches’ in Spanish.
53. Infante
Infante means ‘child.’ It was traditionally used for the primo genital children of the royal families of Spain.
54. Jacobo
Jacobo means ‘Son of Jacob,’ ‘noble’ or ‘ancient decent.’
55. Jaramillo
Derived from Spanish origin, Jaramillo means ‘of The Jaramago Tree or ‘A jungle.’
56. Jardinez
Jardinez is a family name that denotes ‘garden’ in French.
57. Jorge
Derived from the Greek name Georgios which comes from Latin Georgius, Jorge is a variant of georgos, meaning “farmer” or “earth-worker.”
58. Jurado
This occupational name comes from jurado ‘sworn,’ past participle of jurar ‘to swear’ from Latin iurare.
59. Labrada
This famous surname of Cuba means ‘land used for farming’ or ’tilling.’
60. Lago
Lago is a Spanish and Portuguese name that refers to a ‘person living on the lakeside.’
61. Ledesma
Derived from Spanish origin, Ledesma means ‘big’ or ‘wide.’
62. Leiva
Derived from French origin, Leiva means “Great.”
63. Leon
Leon is a Spanish name from the personal name Greek leon ‘meaning ‘lion.’
64. Leyva
This Cuban last name means a person responsible for the regulation of the law.’
65. Lopez
Derived from the Latin word lupus, meaning ‘wolf’ or “son of Lope.’
66. Lupercio
Luperciois of African origin and means “Intelligent and strong.’
67. Madera
Derived from Spanish origin, Madera means “wood” or “wooden.”
68. Marin
Derived from Spanish and Catalan origin, Marin means “one who lives by the sea” or “one who comes from the sea.”
69. Marrero
This Spanish name refers to ‘who works with stones for a living.’
70. Martinez
Derived from Spanish origin, Martinez means “son of Martin.” Martin itself comes from the Roman God Mars, ‘the patron of war.’
71. Matos
In Hebrew, Matos refers to ‘someone who lives in a place filled with tall shrubs.’
72. Mirabal
Derived from Spanish and Aragonese origin, Mirabel means “one who gazes upon the valley.”
73. Montalvan
(Spanish origin), meaning “white mountains.” Related to Montalbán.
74. Mora
Derived from Catalan, Portuguese, and Spanish origin, Mora means “mulberry.” An alternate Moreira means “mulberry tree” or “mulberry grove.”
75. Nunez
This patronymic Portuguese surname means ‘Son of Nuno.’
76. Obregon
Derived from Portuguese origin, Obregon means “worker.”
77. Ojeda
Derived from Spanish origin, Ojeda means ‘a pile of leaves.’
78. Ortega
This Spanish nickname from ortega’ female black grouse’ from Greek ortyx ‘quail.’ This topographic name comes from Occitan ortiga’ nettle’ (Its Latin form is urtica and the French form is ortie).
79. Otero
Otero means ‘height’ in Spanish and can mean ‘someone living at a higher altitude.’
80. Pacheco
Pacheco means ‘someone noble’ derived from Portuguese and Spanish origin.
81. Pereira
In Portuguese, Pereira refers to ‘a pear tree’ or ‘plantation of pear trees.’
82. Perez
Perez refers to the “son of pedro” in Spanish, whereas pedro is “peter” in English and means stone.
83. Pomares
Derived from Spanish origin, Pomares means “orchard.”
84. Quintana
Derived from Spanish origin, Quintana means ‘a house in the countryside.’
85. Revuelta
Derived from Spanish origin, Revuelta means “a revolutionary.”
86. Reyes
Reyes means ‘kings’ or “people of royalty” in Spanish.
87. Rios
Derived from the Spanish word Rio, Rios means ‘river.’
88. Rivas
Derived from the word Rivera, Rivas means ‘seashore’ or ‘bank of a river.’
89. Rodriguez
Rodriguez means ‘the son of Rodrigo’ or ‘someone who is in power.’
90. Rojas
Rojas comes from the Spanish word Rojo, which denotes ‘the color red.’
91. Roque
Roque means ‘rock’ in Catalan and Spanish.
92. Saavedra
As per the Galician origin, Saavedra means “an ancestral hall.”
93. Santamaria
Derived from Spanish origin, Santamaria means “Saint Mary.”
94. Santana
Derived from Spanish origin, Santana means “Saint Anne,” the mother of Mary.
95. Sarduy
Derived from Basque origin, Sarduy means “apple tree.”
96. Silveira/Silvela
Derived from Portuguese origin, Silveira means “woods” or “land densely populated by woods.” It means ‘valley’ in Spanish.
97. Tamayo
Derived from Catalan origin, Tamayo means ‘cattle feed’ or ‘fodder.’
98. Valladares
Derived from Spanish origin, Valladares means “a fortress wall” or “bastion.”
99. Varona
Varona denotes ‘a woman with courage.’
100. Zayas
Derived from the Basque word Zai, Zayas means ‘guard’ or ‘watchman.’
Cubans take pride in their roots as Cuban last names can originate in different countries and ethnicities as people have migrated over some time to settle down in this island country. An updated list of Cuban last names can come to your aid when looking to pick your child’s fanciest or trendiest surname that can add interest to your child’s personality.
