Discover if YOUR surname comes from the Reconquista era! Spanish, Jewish, Arabic, and mixed origins with fascinating stories.
Meaning: Young warrior / Spear
From Basque "Gartzia" = young, or Gothic "gairja" = spear. Most common surname in Spain!...
1.5 MILLION people in Spain! Also huge in Latin America. 4th most common surname...
Meaning: Priest
Hebrew כֹּהֵן (kohen) = Jewish priest. Descendants of Aaron, brother of Moses. Hereditary priestly c...
200,000+ worldwide. DNA studies show Cohens share genetic markers (Cohen Modal H...
Meaning: Son of Lope (wolf)
Patronymic: "son of Lope." Lope comes from Latin "lupus" = wolf. Very common in medieval Spain....
925,000 in Spain! 2nd most common surname. Also massive in Latin America. 5th mo...
Meaning: Various (AL = "the" in Arabic)
"Al-" is Arabic definite article "the." Al-Mansur = "the victorious," Alcalde = "the judge," Alfaro ...
Thousands of Spanish placenames start with "Al-"! Many Spanish surnames too: Alc...
Meaning: Son of Mendo / Hermenegildo
From Visigothic "Hermenegildo." Spanish Christians: Méndez. Portuguese Jews: Mendes. Same root!...
Méndez: 240,000 in Spain. Mendes: 50,000+ Sephardic Jews worldwide. DNA studies ...
Meaning: Son of Fernando (brave journey)
Patronymic: "son of Fernando/Ferdinand." Fernando from Gothic "Ferdinanth" = brave journey (fardi = ...
915,000 in Spain (3rd most common!). Massive in Latin America. Fernández is THE ...
Meaning: Son of (Arabic patronymic)
Ibn (ابن) = "son of" in Arabic. Example: Ibn Rushd = son of Rushd. Jewish used "ben" (same meaning)....
Rare as surname in Spain now (most expelled). Common in North Africa: Ben/Ibn pr...
Meaning: Son of Rodrigo (famous ruler)
From Gothic "Hrodric" = famous (hrod) + ruler (ric). Patronymic: son of Rodrigo. El Cid's name was R...
925,000 in Spain! Most common surname in many Latin American countries. In USA, ...
Meaning: Descendant of Levi (Levite tribe)
Hebrew לֵוִי (Levi) = attached, joined. Levites assisted Temple priests. Second-tier priestly caste ...
100,000+ worldwide. Like Cohen, Levi families share genetic markers! DNA proves ...
Meaning: Son of Sancho (holy)
From Latin "Sanctius" = holy/saint. Patronymic: son of Sancho. Super common in medieval Christian Sp...
705,000 in Spain (4th most common!). Also huge in Latin America, Philippines. Ex...
Meaning: From the city of Toledo
Toponymic surname (from place). Toledo from Latin "Toletum," possibly from earlier Celtiberian. Both...
25,000 in Spain. Sephardic Jewish communities worldwide also use "de Toledo" or ...
Meaning: Castle / Fortification
From Latin "castrum" = castle, fort, fortified settlement. Very common in Galicia and Portugal....
180,000 in Spain. Massive in Latin America (especially Cuba, Brazil). Also Portu...
Cohen and Levi surnames share genetic markers! Science confirmed oral tradition.
García is most common Spanish surname - more Garcías than entire Iceland population!
Méndez (Christian) and Mendes (Jewish) = same root, different religions!
Over 4,000 Spanish place names start with "Al-" (Arabic "the")!