66 Most Common Mexican Last Names & Their Meanings

Mexico has by far the most Spanish speakers in the world. However, Mexico doesn’t have an official language. I have selected the 66 most common Mexican last names with their meanings included.

List Of 66 Mexican Last Names:

Soto

Soto is a surname of Spanish origin and is meaning small wood or grove.

Garcia

Garcia has its origins in the Basque word hartz which means “bear.” It is the second most common surname in Mexico.

Guerrero

”Warrior.” Álvaro Guerrero played in the 1986 drama film The Mission.

Reyes

Reyes is derived from the word rey, meaning ”kings.”

Bravo

Meaning courageous or brave, Bravo is from the Latin word bravus.

Martinez

Martinez is a patronymic surname and is symbolizing “son of Martin.” It has its origins in Mars that is the Roman god of war and fertility.

Alvarado

‘Whitened place.’ During the Fall of Tenochtitlan Pedro de Alvarado served as Cortés’s chief lieutenant.

Cruz

Cruz comes from the Latin word crux (“cross”).

Fuentes

“Fountains.”

READ MORE: 38 Common Japanese Last Names With Meanings

Lopez

Lopez is a patronymical surname meaning “son of Lope.”

Vega

It has a meaning that I like, “one who lives on the plain.” Lope de Vega, one of the most prolific playwrights who ever lived.

Ortega

Ortega comes from Latin urtica that is meaning ”nettle.” Cristóbal Ortega played for the Mexico national team in 24 matches. Orreaga and Ortigosa are good variations.

Espinoza

“Thorny place.”

Hernández

Hernández (“son of Hernando”) is the Spanish form of the Germanic Ferdinand.

Domínguez

Domínguez is symbolizing “son of Domingo.” Politician Alfonso Martínez Domínguez was the governor of the Mexican state of Nuevo León for 6 years.

Facts about Mexico

Mariachi music is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Mariachi music originated in the state of Jalisco.

Americans party harder on Cinco de Mayo than Mexicans do.

The Great Pyramid of Cholula is the largest pyramid by volume in the world.

You’ll find the smallest volcano in the world, Cuexcomate.

Lara

Lara is a water nymph in Roman Mythology. It means pleasant place or cheerful.

Delgado

Meaning soft or delicate, Delgado is derived from Latin delicatus. Sculptor Marcel Delgado is famous for his work on the 1933 film King Kong.

Nunez

Son of Nuño.”

Gonzalez

”Son of Gonzalo.” It is one of the most common surnames in the Spanish-speaking population.

Contreras

”From the surrounding area.”

Vargas

Vargas comes from the Spanish word varga (”steepest section of a slope”).

Mendez

Mendez means ”son or descendant of Mendo.” Actor Marco Méndez played Dr. Bruno Palma in the telenovela Querida Enemiga.

Perez

”Son of Pero” and is the Spanish equivalent of Peter. Peter has its origins in the Greek Petros (stone or rock).

Herrera

Herrera is from the Latin word ferrāria and is symbolizing “iron works.” Boxer Aaron Herrera is the current WBC Mundo Hispano Lightweight Champion.

Castillo

The name Castillo originates in the word castillo (castle).

More interesting facts about Mexico

Chocolate originated in this country, where the Mayans and Aztecs first cultivated the cacao plant

Day of the Dead is a colourful Mexican tradition honouring deceased loved ones.

The climate in Mexico varies from tropical climate to desert climate.

Mexico means navel of the moon, and it’s an Aztec word.

Chichen Itza is just one of 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mexico.

Rodriguez

The patronymic name Rodriguez means “son of Rodrigo.” Its Portuguese equivalent is Rodrigues.

Rojas

”Red.” Fernando de Rojas wrote La Celestina and published it in 1499.

Romero

Romero has roots in the Spanish word for “pilgrim.” It is originally from the Greek word Romaios.

Salinas

It comes from salinas (”salt pans” or ”salt works”) and the root is Latin salinae. Claudia Salinas was featured in Trace, Bello, FHM, Maxim, and GQ.

Sanchez

Sanchez has its origins in the patronymic form of the given name Sancho which means ”consecrated” or ”sacred.”

Chavez

Chavez signifies keys.

Aguilar

Aguilar means ‘haunt of eagles’ and is originally from the Latin word L’Aquillare

Navarro

“Someone from Navarre”.

Ramirez

“Son of Ramiro” or “son of Ramon.”

Ortiz

Son of Orti.”

Flores

Flores has its origins in Floro which is meaning “flower.” Boxer Adam Flores was trained by Eduardo Garcia at La Colonia Boxing Club.

Torres

Torres means towers and is the plural of the Latin turris. It settled on families who lived near a watchtower or a keep.

Gómez

Gómez has origins in Gome which is from the Gothic root for man. As a patronymic it means ”a son of Gome.”

Díaz

”Son of Diego.”

Ruiz

Ruiz comes from Ruy, a diminutive of Rodrigo, and means ”son of Ruy.”

Ramos

Ramos is the word for ”branches or ”boughs” and is from the Latin ramus.

Morales

“Blackberry bush” or “dweller by the mulberry tree”.

Ríos

Ríos is from the Latin rivus (”river”).

Jiménez

Jiménez is linked with Jimeno which was once written Ximeno and is symbolizing ”son of Jimeno.” The x spelling was from the colonial-era papers and later changed to the modern j.

Moreno

It means ”someone dark haired” or ”dark complexioned” and has origins in the Latin maurus. Mario Moreno is well known throughout Spain and Latin America.

Muñoz

Muñoz comes from Munio (”son of Munio”).

Álvarez

Álvarez means ”the son of Álvaro” and its with Germanic and Visigothic origins. The ez ending is the sign.

Castro

Castro is from the Latin castrum and means a fort or fortified settlement.

Cabrera

Cabrera has roots in the Latin capra and is symbolizing “place of goats.”

Vázquez

Vázquez comes from the Basque Vasco (”son of Vasco”). Older records spell it Velázquez or Velasco.

Molina

Molina means mill and is from the Latin molina.

Mendoza

Mendoza is made of the Basque words mendi (means ”mountain” and (h)otz (”cold”). Antonio de Mendoza was the first viceroy of New Spain.

Guzmán

Guzmán is linked to a village in Burgos, Spain, and means ”good man.” Martín Luis Guzmán is considered a pioneer of the revolutionary novel.

Juárez

Juárez is a form of Suárez that is the patronymic for son of Suero.

Cárdenas

Cárdenas comes from cárdeno (”bluish purple”) and also names towns in La Rioja and Almería.

Estrada

Estrada has origins in the Latin strata, a paved road.

Cervantes

Cervantes has roots in ciervo (”the stag” as well as in the word for servant so pick whichever you like. Miguel de Cervantes is known for his novel Don Quixote.

Peña

”Rock” or ”crag,” and is from the Latin pinna.

Serrano

“Dweller from the mountains”.

Bautista

Bautista is from the title Baptist for John the Baptist.

Escobar

Escobar has roots in escoba (broom).

Carrillo

”Jaw.” In 1959 Álvaro Carrillo wrote the bolero Sabor a mí.

Beltrán

Beltrán has origins in the Germanic Bertrand that is made of beraht (means ”bright”) and hraban (”raven”). Lola Beltrán was specialized in the musical genres of ranchera.

Quintero

Quintero is a job name for a farmer who worked a quinta and paid the owner a 5th of the harvest.

Solís

Solís is from the Latin sol, the sun, and is also a village in Asturias.

Ibarra

”Plain by the river”.