Hispanic last names are more than just family identifiers; they offer a window into cultural traditions and history. Common surnames like García, Martínez, and Hernández are widely used across Spanish-speaking countries and Spain. These names often have meanings related to places, professions, or personal traits, reflecting a rich heritage.
In this guide, we’ll explore list of the 50 common Hispanic last names. We’ll look at where they come from, what they mean, and why they are so common. Whether you’re tracing your family roots or just interested in cultural history, understanding these names helps us connect with the stories and traditions of many people around the world.
List Of common Hispanic last names
1. García
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Originally a Basque name meaning “bear,” it is one of the most common surnames in Spain and Latin America.
Variants: Garcia
2. Martínez
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the given name “Martín,” meaning “of Mars,” the Roman god of war.
Variants: Martinez
3. Hernández
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the given name “Hernando,” meaning “brave” or “daring.”
Variants: Hernandez
4. López
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from “Lopo,” a variant of “Lupo,” meaning “wolf.” It denotes “son of Lope.”
Variants: Lopez
5. Pérez
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from “Pedro,” meaning “stone” or “rock.”
Variants: Perez
6. Sánchez
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the given name “Sancho,” meaning “holy” or “sacred.”
Variants: Sanchez
7. Ramírez
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the given name “Ramiro,” which means “wise” or “judicious.”
Variants: Ramirez
8. Torres
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “torres,” meaning “towers.” It could refer to someone who lived near a tower or had a tower-like characteristic.
Variants: Torres
9. Vásquez
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the given name “Vasco,” meaning “Basque” or “from the Basque country.”
Variants: Vasquez, Vasques
10. Gómez
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the given name “Gómez,” meaning “man” or “son of Gómez.”
Variants: Gomez
11. Jiménez
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the given name “Jimeno,” which means “son of Jimeno.”
Variants: Jimenez
12. Mendoza
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name meaning “cold mountain” in Basque.
Variants: Mendoza
13. Álvarez
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the given name “Álvaro,” meaning “guardian” or “protector.”
Variants: Alvarez
14. Moreno
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “moreno,” meaning “dark” or “brunette.”
Variants: Moreno
15. Rivas
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name meaning “streams” or “rivers.”
Variants: Rivas
16. Castro
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “castro,” meaning “fortress” or “castle.” It often referred to someone who lived near a fortress.
Variants: Castro
17. Benítez
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the given name “Benito,” which means “blessed.”
Variants: Benitez
18. Flores
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “flores,” meaning “flowers.” It could refer to someone who lived near a flower garden or was associated with flowers.
Variants: Flores
19. Guzmán
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name in Spain, possibly referring to “Guzmán,” meaning “the son of Guzmán.”
Variants: Guzman
20. Márquez
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “marqués,” meaning “marquis” or a noble title.
Variants: Marquez
21. Ríos
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “ríos,” meaning “rivers.” It likely referred to someone who lived near a river.
Variants: Rios
22. Vega
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “vega,” meaning “meadow” or “fertile plain.”
Variants: Vega
23. Delgado
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “delgado,” meaning “slender” or “thin.”
Variants: Delgado
24. Ponce
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name, possibly “Ponce” in Spain, meaning “from Ponce” or “son of Ponce.”
Variants: Ponce
25. Serrano
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “serrano,” meaning “mountain dweller” or “from the mountains.”
Variants: Serrano
26. Sosa
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Possibly derived from a place name, referring to “Sosa,” which may have been a geographical feature or settlement.
Variants: Sosa
27. Salazar
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name in Spain, possibly meaning “place of the salt” or “salt flats.”
Variants: Salazar
28. Alvarado
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name meaning “white oak” or “alder” in Old Spanish.
Variants: Alvarado
29. Cardenas
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name, possibly referring to “Cardenas,” which could be linked to a region or geographical feature.
Variants: Cardenas
30. Cruz
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “cruz,” meaning “cross,” often referring to a religious symbol.
Variants: Cruz
31. Aguirre
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a Basque place name, it could mean “promontory” or “peak.”
Variants: Aguirre
32. Alfaro
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name in Spain, possibly meaning “from the high place” or “elevated area.”
Variants: Alfaro
33. Arriaga
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a Basque place name, potentially meaning “place of thorns” or “bush.”
Variants: Arriaga
34. Barros
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “barros,” meaning “clay” or “mud,” possibly referring to someone who worked with clay or lived near clay deposits.
Variants: Barros
35. Bermúdez
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the given name “Bermudo,” meaning “brave” or “courageous.”
Variants: Bermudez
36. Bravo
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “bravo,” meaning “brave” or “valiant.”
Variants: Bravo
37. Camacho
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name or a personal name, possibly meaning “one who is from Camacho” or associated with a particular region.
Variants: Camacho
38. Cordero
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “cordero,” meaning “lamb,” possibly referring to someone who worked with or sold lambs.
Variants: Cordero
39. Díaz
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the given name “Diego,” meaning “supplanter” or “one who replaces.”
Variants: Diaz
40. Escobar
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name, possibly referring to a “thicket” or “brushwood” area.
Variants: Escobar
41. Figueroa
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name referring to “fig tree,” possibly indicating someone who lived near or worked with fig trees.
Variants: Figueroa
42. González
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the given name “Gonzalo,” meaning “battle” or “war.”
Variants: Gonzalez
43. Lara
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name, possibly meaning “fortress” or “mountain.”
Variants: Lara
44. Luna
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “luna,” meaning “moon.”
Variants: Luna
45. Maldonado
Origin:
Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name, possibly meaning “bad gift” or “unfortunate gift.”
Variants: Maldonado
46. Martín
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Roman name “Martinus,” meaning “of Mars” or “warlike.”
Variants: Martin
47. Montoya
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name, possibly referring to “mountain” or “hill.”
Variants: Montoya
48. Morales
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from the Spanish word “moral,” meaning “mulberry tree,” possibly referring to someone who lived near such trees.
Variants: Morales
49. Quiñones
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name or possibly a variation of “Quijada,” meaning “jawbone” or “jaw.”
Variants: Quinones
50. Valdez
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Derived from a place name in Spain, possibly referring to “a valley” or “from the valley.”
Variants: Valdez
