200+ Spanish Last Names 2026 (With Meanings)

Spanish Last Names: From their history, culture, and traditions, as well as their familial lineage over the centuries, Spanish last names offer a glimpse into how heritage has been formed through family lineage and geographical ties as well as through individual identity.

Many of these last names can be traced back to their meaning as being attributed to a father (patronymic), while many others are derived from the location in which they are found, their job or are descriptive of someone.

Some of the more well known family names that have been passed down through the generations and some that are specific to the region could also be considered as having a strong sense of identity and cultural pride.

Spanish Last Names

García – “young or brave warrior;” one of the most common surnames with deep medieval roots.

Martínez – “son of Martín;” meaning dedicated to Mars, the Roman god of war.

Rodríguez – “son of Rodrigo;” meaning famous ruler.

López – “son of Lope;” meaning wolf, symbolizing strength.

Hernández – “son of Hernando;” meaning bold traveler.

González – “son of Gonzalo;” meaning battle genius.

Pérez – “son of Pedro;” meaning rock or strong foundation.

Sánchez – “son of Sancho;” meaning holy or sacred.

Ramírez – “son of Ramiro;” meaning wise protector.

Torres – “towers;” referring to those who lived near fortified structures.

Flores – “flowers;” symbolizing beauty and nature.

Rivera – “riverbank;” tied to life near flowing water.

Gómez – “man;” derived from a given name.

Díaz – “son of Diego;” meaning teacher or supplanter.

Vargas – “steep slope;” describing rugged terrain.

Castro – “fortress;” indicating a defensive settlement.

Ortega – “nettle plant;” tied to vegetation.

Delgado – “slender;” describing physical appearance.

Ramos – “branches;” associated with nature and growth.

Suárez – “son of Suero;” meaning army or warrior.

Romero – “pilgrim;” one who traveled to Rome.

Navarro – “from Navarre;” indicating geographic origin.

Domínguez – “son of Domingo;” meaning belonging to the Lord.

Gil – “joy;” short and historically rooted name.

Serrano – “mountain dweller;” tied to highlands.

Blanco – “white;” referring to fair features.

Molina – “mill;” linked to milling occupations.

Morales – “mulberry trees;” tied to agriculture.

Rojas – “red;” referring to hair or complexion.

Alonso – “noble and ready;” derived from a given name.

Cruz – “cross;” strong religious symbolism.

Herrera – “iron worker;” tied to blacksmithing.

Peña – “rock;” symbolizing strength and stability.

León – “lion;” representing courage and power.

Cabrera – “goat farm;” rural occupational origin.

Gallego – “from Galicia;” regional identity.

Campos – “fields;” linked to farmland.

Vega – “fertile plain;” describing lush land.

Fuentes – “springs;” referring to water sources.

Carrasco – “oak tree;” tied to nature.

Reyes – “kings;” possibly linked to royal service.

Mendoza – “cold mountain;” geographic origin.

Aguilar – “place of eagles;” symbolizing vision and strength.

Cortés – “courteous;” describing personality traits.

Iglesias – “churches;” tied to religious locations.

Medina – “city;” of Arabic origin reflecting historical influence.

Santos – “saints;” religious significance.

Garrido – “handsome;” describing appearance.

Castillo – “castle;” indicating fortified homes.

Lozano – “lively or cheerful;” personality-based.

Salazar – “old hall;” noble and locational origin.

Escobar – “broom shrub;” tied to vegetation.

Pacheco – “noble;” aristocratic roots.

Solís – “sun;” symbolizing brightness.

Montoya – “hills and valleys;” geographic origin.

Valencia – “strength or vigor;” also a famous region.

Arroyo – “stream;” tied to water landscapes.

Bautista – “baptist;” religious association.

Bravo – “brave;” indicating courage.

Calderón – “large basin;” possibly occupational.

Camacho – “crooked;” describing physical traits.

Cardenas – “thistles;” plant-based origin.

Carvajal – “oak grove;” nature-related.

Cervantes – “deer;” symbolic of grace.

Contreras – “opposite land;” geographic reference.

Coronado – “crowned;” linked to honor.

Cuevas – “caves;” tied to landscape.

Duarte – “wealthy guardian;” noble meaning.

Espinoza – “thorny place;” natural terrain.

Estrada – “road;” linked to travel routes.

Figueroa – “fig tree;” agricultural origin.

Franco – “free;” symbolizing independence.

Galván – “bright;” describing character or appearance.

Godoy – “good;” positive trait-based surname.

Granados – “pomegranate trees;” tied to fruit-bearing land.

Guzmán – “good man;” moral attribute.

Hidalgo – “nobleman;” historical social class.

Juárez – “son of Suero;” warrior lineage.

Lara – “citadel;” fortress-related.

Linares – “flax fields;” agricultural roots.

Maldonado – “ill-fated;” possibly historical nickname.

Marín – “of the sea;” coastal connection.

Mejía – “messenger;” communication role.

Mora – “mulberry;” plant-based origin.

Nieves – “snows;” possibly linked to purity or place.

Ochoa – “wolf;” strong animal symbolism.

Pineda – “pine forest;” nature-based surname.

Quiroz – “curly;” describing hair.

Salinas – “salt flats;” tied to trade and geography.

Tapia – “mud wall;” construction-related.

Téllez – “son of Tello;” patronymic origin.

Trejo – “three stones;” landscape feature.

Valdez – “son of Baldo;” meaning bold.

Velasco – “crow;” symbolic meaning.

Ventura – “fortune;” linked to luck.

Villalobos – “town of wolves;” strong imagery.

Villanueva – “new town;” settlement-based.

Zamora – “wild olives;” agricultural origin.

Zaragoza – “stronghold;” historic city-based name.

Zúñiga – “hill;” tied to terrain.

Abad – “priest;” originally given to someone connected with a monastery.

Abarca – “leather sandal;” possibly linked to craftsmanship.

Acevedo – “holly grove;” tied to natural landscapes.

Acosta – “from the coast;” indicating seaside origin.

Adán – “man;” derived from the biblical name Adam.

Aguado – “watery;” referring to damp or water-rich land.

Aguirre – “open field;” linked to wide landscapes.

Alarcón – “fortified place;” tied to defensive structures.

Alba – “dawn;” symbolizing new beginnings.

Alcántara – “bridge;” of Arabic origin, reflecting history.

Alfaro – “watchtower;” a place of observation.

Almeida – “plateau;” describing elevated land.

Alonso – “noble and ready;” derived from a given name.

Amador – “lover;” expressing affection.

Andújar – “place of water;” tied to rivers or springs.

Angulo – “corner;” linked to geographic features.

Aponte – “by the bridge;” location-based.

Aranda – “valley;” tied to natural terrain.

Arce – “maple tree;” symbolizing strength and growth.

Arellano – “near the field;” agricultural origin.

Arias – “devoted;” possibly tied to religious roots.

Armas – “weapons;” linked to warriors or soldiers.

Arredondo – “rounded hill;” describing landscape.

Arriaga – “stone place;” tied to rocky terrain.

Avila – “high place;” geographic origin.

Ayala – “hillside;” linked to elevation.

Baeza – “fortress;” historic place name.

Balderas – “bold;” describing courage.

Ballesteros – “crossbow maker;” medieval occupation.

Barajas – “low land;” tied to geography.

Barrientos – “enclosures;” related to land divisions.

Batista – “baptist;” religious significance.

Beltrán – “bright raven;” combining light and symbolism.

Benavides – “son of a good life;” noble roots.

Benítez – “son of Benito;” meaning blessed.

Bermejo – “reddish;” referring to hair or complexion.

Bernal – “strong as a bear;” symbolizing power.

Berrios – “riverbanks;” tied to water landscapes.

Blasco – “lisping;” possibly a nickname origin.

Bonilla – “good;” expressing positive traits.

Borja – “tower;” linked to fortified structures.

Bravo – “brave;” indicating courage.

Burgos – “towns;” tied to settlements.

Caballero – “knight;” associated with honor and chivalry.

Cáceres – “fortress;” Roman-era origin.

Calvo – “bald;” describing physical traits.

Camargo – “crooked field;” tied to terrain.

Canales – “channels;” referring to waterways.

Cano – “gray-haired;” describing age or appearance.

Cárdenas – “thistles;” plant-based origin.

Carmona – “garden;” tied to cultivation.

Carranza – “thorn bush;” natural feature.

Casado – “married;” possibly a social identifier.

Casillas – “small houses;” linked to settlements.

Castañeda – “chestnut grove;” tied to trees.

Castellanos – “people of the castle;” regional identity.

Castillo – “castle;” linked to fortifications.

Ceballos – “deer;” symbolic of grace.

Cepeda – “onion field;” agricultural origin.

Cervera – “place of deer;” wildlife connection.

Chacón – “falcon;” symbolizing sharp vision.

Chaparro – “short;” describing stature.

Chaves – “keys;” possibly symbolic of authority.

Cifuentes – “hundred springs;” tied to abundant water.

Cordero – “lamb;” symbolic of gentleness.

Correa – “belt;” possibly linked to leatherwork.

Crespo – “curly-haired;” describing appearance.

Cuellar – “place of hills;” geographic origin.

Del Río – “of the river;” tied to water.

De la Cruz – “of the cross;” strong religious meaning.

De la Rosa – “of the rose;” symbolizing beauty.

De León – “of León;” regional identity.

De Soto – “from the grove;” nature-based.

Durán – “enduring;” expressing strength.

Echeverría – “new house;” Basque origin.

Elizondo – “by the church;” religious location.

Encinas – “oak trees;” symbolizing strength.

Escamilla – “little scale;” possibly descriptive.

Esparza – “scattered land;” tied to geography.

Esteban – “crown;” symbolizing honor.

Fajardo – “beech tree;” nature-related.

Falcon – “falcon;” symbolizing speed and vision.

Felipe – “lover of horses;” derived from a given name.

Fernández – “son of Fernando;” meaning brave traveler.

Ferrer – “blacksmith;” occupational origin.

Fierro – “iron;” symbolizing strength.

Fonseca – “dry spring;” geographic feature.

Frías – “cold;” describing climate or place.

Gálvez – “son of Galvo;” meaning bright.

Gamboa – “valley;” tied to land.

Garay – “high place;” elevation-based.

Garrido – “handsome;” describing appearance.

Gaspar – “treasurer;” biblical origin.

Gilberto – “bright pledge;” noble meaning.

Godínez – “son of Godino;” derived from a name.

Gracia – “grace;” expressing elegance.

Guerrero – “warrior;” symbolizing bravery.

Haro – “army;” linked to military roots.

Ibáñez – “son of Ibán;” patronymic origin.

Illescas – “church place;” tied to religion.

Iniesta – “field;” simple and nature-based origin.