Mexico is a nation of many cultures that balances tradition with modernity. The people of Mexico are known for their warmth and joy, and cultural events like Dia de Muertos are celebrated globally. Here, you’ll find our list of Mexico’s most common last names and meanigns and hand-picked lists of Mexican surnames by theme.
What are Mexican Last Names?
Mexican last names are typically carried from both the father and the mother. The father’s surname is written first, followed by the mother’s paternal surname. They are often Spanish in origin, but immigrants to Mexico have carried their surnames to the country. Similarly, as Mexicans have migrated around the world, their surnames have become recognizable. Common Mexican-American last names include Garcia, Rodriguez, Martinez, Lopez, and Gonzalez. Unique Mexican-American last names include de La Cruz, Santiago, de Luna, Santamaria, and Ventura.
Mexican last names include the influence of Spanish culture, Catholicism, and Indigenous naming practices. While most people in Mexico use Spanish last names either brought from Spain or adopted by their ancestors, many Indigenous last names are used in different parts of the country, and these surnames are a testament to the dynamic history of Mexican culture and identity. Religious influences are directly seen in the saints and sacred locations in surnames. We’ve gathered lists of Mexican last names by theme, starting with a curated list of the most common last names. Read on to learn more about this fascinating part of Mexican history and culture.
Top 100 Mexican Last Names
This list of Mexico’s most common last names and their meaning provides an overview of these surnames. Mexican last names have roots in Spanish and indigenous languages, and many of these surnames are derived from geographical locations, occupations, and descriptive traits.
- Hernández – Son of Hernando
- García – Bear or young bear
- Martínez – Son of Martin
- López – Son of Lope, meaning wolf
- González – Son of Gonzalo
- Pérez – Son of Pedro or Peter
- Rodríguez – Son of Rodrigo
- Sánchez – Son of Sancho
- Ramírez – Son of Ramiro
- Cruz – Cross
- Flores – Flowers
- Gomez – Son of Gome or Gomo, meaning man
- Morales – Mulberry trees or blackberry bushes
- Vázquez – Diminutive of Vazco or Vasco, meaning crow
- Reyes – Kings
- Jiménez – Son of Jimeno
- Torres – Towers
- Díaz – Son of Diego
- Gutiérrez – Son of Gutierre, meaning warrior
- Ruiz – Son of Ruy or Roy, short form of Rodrigo
- Mendoza – Cold mountain
- Aguilar – Place of eagles
- Ortiz – Son of Orti, meaning fortunate
- Moreno – Dark-skinned or brown
- Castillo – Castle
- Romero – Pilgrim or rosemary
- Álvarez – Son of Alvaro
- Méndez – Son of Mendo
- Chavez – Son of Chavo, Salvador or savior
- Rivera – Riverbank
- Juarez – Son of Suero or independent, free
- Ramos – Branches, referring to Palm branches
- Dominguez – Son of Domingo or Sunday
- Herrera – Ironworker or blacksmith
- Medina – City or town
- Castro – Castle or fortress
- Vargas – Sloping bank or hillside
- Guzmán – Good man
- Velazquez – Son of Velasco, meaning crow
- Rojas – Red or red-haired
- de La Cruz – Of the Cross
- Contreras – Place near stone quarries
- Salazar – Old hall or house
- Luna – Moon
- Ortega – Upland or highland
- Santiago – Saint James
- Guerrero – Warrior
- Estrada – Road or highway
- Bautista – Baptist
- Cortes – Courteous or court
- Soto – Grove or small forest
- Alvarado – White or bright
- Espinoza – Thorny
- Lara – Place of the laurel trees
- Avila – Bird or strength
- Ríos – Rivers
- Cervantes – Deer
- Silva – Forest or woodland
- Delgado – Thin or slender
- Vega – Meadow
- Marquez – Son of Marco or Marcus
- Sandoval – New forest
- Carrillo – Little car or cart
- Fernandez – Son of Fernando or bold voyager
- Leon – Lion
- Mejía – Village or hamlet
- Solís – Sunny or eastern
- Rosas – Roses
- Ibarra – Valley
- Valdez – Son of Baldo, meaning brave
- Campos – Fields
- Santos – Saints
- Camacho – Field or plain
- Navarro – From Navarre, a region in Spain
- Maldonado – Badly given or unfortunate
- Rosales – Rose bushes
- Acosta – Seashore or the coast
- Miranda – Admirable or lookout
- Cabrera – Place of goats
- Trejo – Threefold or triple
- Valencia – Strength or valor
- Nava – Plain or field
- Pacheco – Noble or nobleman
- Robles – Oak trees
- Molina – Mill
- Fuentes – Springs or fountains
- Rangel – Angel or messenger
- Huerta – Orchard or garden
- Meza – Table or plateau
- Padilla – Frying pan or small field
- Espinosa – Thorny
- Aguirre – Prominent or noble
- Salas – Hall or room
- Cardenas – Blue or bluish color
- Orozco – A place of birch trees
- Valenzuela – Little Valencia
- Ponce – Fifth or stone
- Bravo – Brave or wild
- Romo – Curved or round
- Muñoz – Son of Muño
Unique Mexican Last Names
Our list of unique Mexican last names contains examples of Mexico’s unique culture and history. These last names connect deeply to indigenous cultures, local geography, or historical events specific to certain regions.
- Arias – Son of Ario
- Arroyo – Brook or stream
- Ayala – Place near a cliff or crag
- Barajas – Decks of cards or location named Barajas
- Barrera – Barrier or fence
- Benitez – Son of Benito
- Bonilla – Good or beautiful little one
- Caballero – Knight or horseman
- Calderón – Large kettle or cauldron
- Castañeda – Chestnut grove or place of chestnuts
- Cordero – Lamb
- Cordova – Heart or from Córdoba, a city in Spain
- Corona – Crown
- Cortez – Courteous or court
- Duarte – Son of Edward
- Durán – Enduring or steadfast
- Enriquez – Son of Enrique or Henry
- Escobar – Broom plant
- Figueroa – Fig tree
- Franco – Frankish or free man
- Gallegos – From Galicia, a region in Spain
- Galván – Galvanized or brave
- Garza – Heron
- Gonzales – Variant of González, Son of Gonzalo
- Guerra – War
- Guevara – Old Basque for place of salt
- Lozano – Lush or verdant
- Lugo – From Lugo, a city in Spain
- Macias – Mace-bearer
- Marín – Sailor
- Melendez – Son of Melendo
- Mercado – Market
- Mireles – Watchtower
- Montes – Mountains
- Montoya – Steep mountain
- Mora – Blackberry or Moor
- Moran – Big or great
- Nuñez – Son of Nuño
- Ochoa – Wolf
- Paredes – Walls
- Parra – Vine or grapevine
- Peña – Rock or crag
- Pineda – Pine grove
- Quintero – Fifth or a place for a fifth
- Reyna – Queen
- Rivas – Riverbanks
- Rocha – Rock
- Roldán – Famous in the land
- Rosario – Rosary
- Rubio – Blond or fair-haired
- Salinas – Salt pans or saltworks
- Santana – Saint Anna or holy Ana
- Saucedo – Place of willow trees
- Serrano – From the mountains or highlander
- Sierra – Mountain range or saw
- Soria – From Soria, a city in Spain
- Sosa – Sorrel, a type of plant
- Suarez – Son of Suero
- Tapia – Wall or fence
- Treviño – Place of the three neighbors
- Trujillo – Small Aperture or a place in Spain
- Vasquez – Son of Vasco
- Vela – Candle or watch
- Velasquez – Son of Velasco
- Velez – From Vélez, a region in Spain
- Villa – Town or village
- Villanueva – New village
- Villarreal – Royal town or royal village
- Villegas – Town or settlement
- Zamora – From Zamora, a city in Spain
- Zaragoza – From Zaragoza, a city in Spain
- Zavala – Sandy place or place of the sables
- Zuñiga – From Zuñiga, a location in Spain
Cute Mexican Last Names
Many cute Mexican last names have meanings related to nature, virtues, and Catholicism, leaving a warm impression on those who hear them. Their charming sound and sometimes whimsical meanings makes them memorable.
- Amaro – Bitter or dark
- Amaya – Related to a place name
- Angel – Angel
- Angeles – Angels
- Antonio – Beyond praise or highly praiseworthy
- Barrios – Neighborhoods or districts
- Bello – Beautiful or pretty
- Blanco – White
- Bueno – Good
- Calvillo – From Calvillo, a location in Mexico
- Carmona – From Carmona, a city in Spain
- Carrera – Race or career
- Casanova – New house
- Clemente – Merciful or gentle
- Corrales – Corrals or pens for animals
- Cristobal – Bearer of Christ
- de Jesus – Of Jesus
- de La Rosa – Of the rose
- de Leon – Of the lion
- de Luna – Of the moon
- del Angel – Of the angel
- Diego – Supplanter or he who replaces
- Elias – The Lord is my God
- Escamilla – Related to a place name
- Espino – Thorn or hawthorn tree
- Estrella – Star
- Evangelista – Bringer of good news, evangelist
- Fabian – Bean grower
- Iglesias – Churches
- Jacobo – Supplanter or he who replaces
- Jáimez – Son of Jaime or James
- Javier – From Javier, a castle in Spain
- Leal – Loyal
- Limon – Lemon
- Lira – Lyre, a musical instrument
- Llamas – Flames or related to a place
- Lomeli – Small hill
- Loya – Loyal
- Lucio – Light
- Marcos – Warlike or male
- Mariano – Related to the Virgin Mary
- Mata – Kills
- Mateos – Gift of God
- Maya – From the Mayan civilization
- Melo – Honey or related to a place name
- Meraz – Related to a place name or occupation
- Millan – Mill or grinder
- Mota – Mound or small hill
- Moya – Wetland or bog
- Niño – Child
- Oliva – Olive or olive tree
- Olivas – Olives or olive trees
- Olivera – Olive grove
- Olmedo – Elm grove
- Oviedo – From Oviedo, a city in Spain
- Palacios – Palaces
- Palma – Palm tree or hand
- Palomares – Dovecotes
- Parada – Stop or halt
- Paz – Peace
- Pimentel – Pepper patch
- Piña – Pineapple
- Porras – Clubs or bludgeons
- Puente – Bridge
- Pulido – Polished
- Quiroz – Happy or fortunate
- Raya – Stripe or line
- Rivero – Riverbank
- Rojo – Red
- Salcido – Salty or salted
- Santamaria – Saint Mary
- Sevilla – From Sevilla, a city in Spain
- Tamayo – Son of Tello or a place name
- Valle – Valley
Cool Mexican Last Names
These cool Mexican last names are perfect for vaqueros, revolutionaries, and soon-to-be icons. These surnames stand out, and evoke admiration and a sense of mystique from those who encounter them.
- Alegria – Joy
- Alejo – Defender
- Amador – Lover
- Aragon – From Aragón, a region in Spain
- Balderas – Related to a place or valley of stones
- Barbosa – Bearded or from Barbosa in Spain
- Bermudez – Son of Bermudo
- Blancas – White
- Calixto – Beautiful
- Cano – Gray, referring to gray hair or beard
- Carrasco – Oak grove
- Colorado – Reddish or colored red
- Cordoba – From Córdoba, a city in Spain
- Coronel – Colonel
- Cota – Short robe or cloak
- Cuevas – Caves
- de Dios – Of God
- de La Fuente – Of the fountain or spring
- de La Luz – Of the light
- de La Torre – Of the tower
- de Los Santos – Of the saints
- del Rio – Of the river
- Escobedo – Place of brooms or heather
- Falcon – Falcon
- Fierro – Iron
- Geronimo – Sacred name
- Islas – Islands
- Jeronimo – Meaning sacred name
- Laguna – Lagoon
- Lazaro – God has helped
- Lima – Lime or from Lima, a city in Peru
- Lucero – Morning star or bright
- Madrid – From Madrid, capital city of Spain
- Madrigal – Song or small village
- Montejo – Small mountain
- Montero – Hunter
- Navarrete – From Navarrete, a place in Spain
- Ocampo – Open field
- Padron – Registry or list
- Peñaloza – Rocky place
- Plascencia – Variant of Plasencia, a city in Spain
- Quiñones – Estate or property
- Quintana – Country house or estate
- Razo – Reason or cause
- Rico – Rich
- Rizo – Curl, as in hair
- Roque – Rock or fortress
- Rueda – Wheel
- Salvador – Savior
- Santiz – Saintliness or holiness
- Solano – Eastern wind
- Solorzano – New sun
- Terrazas – Terraces
- Tolentino – From Tolentino, a town in Italy
- Trinidad – Trinity
- Urbano – Urban or from the city
- Valdes – Valley or dale
- Vallejo – Small valley
- Ventura – Good fortune or luck
- Vidal – Life
- Villagomez – Village of Gomez
- Viveros – Nurseries or fishponds
- Zapata – Shoe
- Zarate – New settlement, new building
Pretty Mexican Last Names
Pretty Mexican last names sound beautiful and elegant. These surnames have natural origins, poetic expressions, or positive attributes, giving them a delicate and appealing aura.
- Acevedo – Holly tree
- Aceves – Variant of Acevedo, Holly tree
- Aguilera – Place of eagles
- Alba – Dawn or white
- Alcantara – Stone bridge
- Alcaraz – From a town in Spain, rocky place
- Alfaro – Elm tree
- Almaraz – Stony field
- Ambrosio – Immortal
- Aviles – From a town in Spain
- Ballesteros – Crossbowmen
- Barcenas – Clay or mud flats
- Becerril – Young cow or calf
- Benito – Blessed
- Cadena – Chain
- Camarena – Plain or open field
- Camargo – Winding field
- Camarillo – Small chamber or room
- Carranza – Rocky place
- Castellanos – From the castle
- Ceballos – Little horse
- Cornejo – Hawthorn
- Coronado – Crowned
- Dorantes – Golden or gilded
- Elizondo – Church hill
- Esparza – Place of thorn bushes
- Granados – Pomegranate trees
- Ignacio – Fiery or ardent
- Landa – Meadow
- Linares – Name of a town in Spain,
- Loredo – Laurel grove
- Lorenzo – Laurel
- Lozada – From Loza, pottery or crockery
- Mancilla – Stain or blot
- Matias – Gift of God
- Murillo – Little wall
- Neri – My lamp, my light
- Nieves – Snows
- Ocaña – From a town in Spain
- Olivares – Olive groves
- Pascual – Related to Passover or Easter
- Patiño – Little nobleman
- Pedroza – Son of Pedro or Peter
- Peralta – High rock
- Plata – Silver
- Prieto – Dark or swarthy
- Salcedo – Willow grove
- Saldaña – From a town in Spain
- Santoyo – Saint’s place
- Sarmiento – Shoot or branch
- Silverio – Silvery
- Sotelo – Thicket or grove
- Tejeda – Place of yew trees
- Tello – Land or earth
- Tenorio – Bold or daring
- Toledo – From a city in Spain
- Valadez – Valley settlement
- Valdivia – Valley by the river
- Valero – Valiant or brave
- Valladares – Valley settlement
- Velasco – Crow
- Victoriano – Victorious
- Villafuerte – Strong village
- Villaseñor – Lord of the village
Rare Mexican Last Names
Rare Mexican last names have unique origins, stemming from indigenous languages, specific regional influences, or historical events less commonly known.
- Alcala – From the castle
- Alcantar – Variant of Alcantara, Stone bridge
- Almanza – From a town in Spain
- Almazan – From a town in Spain
- Anguiano – From a town in Spain
- Angulo – Angle or corner
- Aparicio – Appearance
- Arce – Maple tree
- Arteaga – Stone house
- Avendaño – From a town in Spain
- Badillo – Path or trail
- Balam – Jaguar, from Mayan origin
- Barragan – Big beard or from Barragán, Spain
- Barrientos – Barren or sterile land
- Bocanegra – Black mouth
- Briones – From a town in Spain
- Cardona – From a town in Spain
- Carpio – Referring to hornbeam trees
- Carreon – Carrier or bearer
- Casillas – Small houses
- Cazares – Hunter’s place
- Ceja – Eyebrow or ridge
- Centeno – Rye
- Ceron – Big hill or mound
- Chaparro – Short or dwarf tree, especially oak
- Constantino – Constant
- Covarrubias – Red caves or red quarries
- Cuellar – From a town in Spain
- Delgadillo – Thin or slender
- Escalante – Staircase or steps
- Galicia – From Galicia, a region in Spain
- Garnica – Watchman or guard
- Gasca – Goose
- Gaspar – Treasurer
- Godinez – Son of Godino, meaning Goth
- Guadarrama – From the mountain range in Spain
- Gudiño – Diminutive of Gudo,meaning Goth
- Jasso – Basque origin, meaning young
- Landeros – From land or territory
- Meneses – From a town in Spain
- Merino – Shepherd or royal official
- Moctezuma – He who frowns like a lord
- Mondragon – From a town in Spain
- Montalvo – White mountain
- Montaño – Mountaineer or highlander
- Montes de Oca – Mountains of the goose
- Munguia – From a town in Spain
- Nevarez – Snowy
- Olguin – Descendant of Olguein
- Ontiveros – From a town in Spain
- Ordaz – Brave or courageous
- Ornelas – A kind of fine glass
- Pedraza – Stone or rock
- Portillo – Small port or gateway
- Prado – Meadow
- Quezada – Cheek
- Reynoso – Kingly or royal
- Roblero – Place of oaks
- Ruelas – Wheel
- Ruvalcaba – From a town in Spain
- Saavedra – Old hall or old court
- San Juan – Saint John
- Serna – Cultivated field
- Solorio – Solitary or lone
- Toscano – From Tuscany
- Urbina – City or urban
Uncommon Mexican Last Names
We’ve scoured records to find the most uncommon Mexican last names that will turn heads. These Mexican last names stand out in a sea of more prevalent surnames, offering a touch of distinctiveness.
- Abarca – Type of footwear or sandal
- Acuña – From a town in Spain
- Aldana – From a town in Spain
- Alva – White
- Ambriz – From Antwerp, Belgium
- Amezcua – From Basque, meaning hazel grove
- Andres – Andrew
- Arana – Spider
- Arguello – Small, cleared place or grove
- Armendariz – From Basque, meaning stone house
- Ascencio – Ascension
- Banda – Edge or strip
- Botello – Little barrel
- Calvo – Bald
- Calzada – Causeway or paved road
- Carrizales – Place of reeds
- Castañon – Big chestnut tree
- Cavazos – Basque origin, meaning hollow
- Chapa – Plate or sheet metal
- Conde – Count
- Corral – Corral or yard
- Crespo – Curly
- Damian – Tamer
- Davalos – Son of David
- de Santiago – From Saint James
- Dimas – Thief crucified with Jesus
- Esteban – Stephen
- Fragoso – Rugged or rough
- Garay – Rough height or mound
- Garibay – From Basque, meaning sharp rock
- Higuera – Fig tree
- Larios – From a place name in Spain
- Lazcano – From Basque, meaning place of the hare
- Ledesma – Place of pastures
- Ledezma – Variant of Ledesma
- Lerma – From a town in Spain
- Lezama – From Basque, meaning place of the meadow
- Lizarraga – From Basque, meaning ash grove
- Loza – Pottery or ceramic
- Manriquez – Son of Manrique
- Manzano – Apple tree
- Manzo – Gentle or tame
- Marcial – Martial or related to Mars, god of war
- Mares – Sea or ocean
- Mariscal – Marshal
- Marroquin – Fine leather or Moorish
- Mateo – Matthew
- Medellin – From a town in Spain
- Melchor – Melchior, one of the Three Wise Men
- Mendieta – Little mountain
- Mosqueda – Mossy place
- Narvaez – From Basque, meaning plain or flat place
- Orta – Garden or orchard
- Ovando – From a town in Spain
- Palomino – Pale or light-colored, a type of horse
- Paniagua – Bread and water
- Partida – Departure or split
- Preciado – Precious or valued
- Quevedo – Place with caves
- Quiñonez – Five houses
- Regalado – Given as a gift
- Romano – Roman
- Rosado – Pink or rosy
- Saenz – Son of Sancho
- Sarabia – From a town in Spain
- Segundo – Second
- Tinoco – Small or weak
- Tirado – Thrown or spread out
- Ugalde – Place near the water
- Valerio – Valiant or brave
- Valles – Valleys
- Zacarias – Zechariah
More Lists:
Famous People with Mexican Last Names
Guillermo del Toro is a filmmaker, actor, and writer best known for his work in the horror genre. His films are inspired by magical realism, religious imagery, and his fascination with monsters. Del Toro is a Mexican last name that means ‘of the bull.’
Frida Kahlo was an artist born in Mexico in 1907. An injury during her teens led her to shift to working as an artist. Her artwork was inspired by her life experiences, magical realism, and Mexican folk art, and today, she is lauded as one of Mexico’s finest artists. The Mexican last name Kahlo is of German origin and means ‘bald.’
Francisco ‘Pancho’ Villa, a controversial and iconic general during the Mexican Revolution, was born in Mexico in 1878 under the name José Doroteo Arango Arámbula. He led a movement for land reforms and equality and is a major figure in Mexico’s cultural identity. Villa is a Mexican last name that means ‘village.’
Vicente Fernández, colloquially called ‘el rey’ or ‘the king,’ was born in Mexico in 1940. Fernández was a singer whose voice made him a cultural icon, and he has won nine Latin Grammy awards and four Grammys. Fernández means ‘son of Fernando’, which in Gothic means’ brave traveler.’
Andrés Manuel López Obrador is a lifelong politician and the current President of Mexico. He was born in Mexico in 1953 and graduated from the prestigious National Autonomous University of Mexico. The surname López means ‘son of Lupe,’ ‘wolf,’ and ‘worker.’
References
Information from Name Census which collects, analyses, and publishes information on Mexican last names was used to collect this data. If you want to learn more about Spanish surnames in Mexico, information can be found on Wikipedia.