South American Submitted Surnames

South American names include those from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Abadilla Spanish
Variant of Badilla
Ábalos Spanish
Habitational name for someone originally from the municipality of Ábalos in La Rioja, Spain, likely of Basque origin.
Abendaño Basque, Spanish
From the name of a neighborhood in Basque Country, Spain, of uncertain etymology.
Abrego Spanish
As a Spanish surname, it was from Spanish ábrego, which originally meant "African", from Latin africus. The vocabulary word in modern Spanish has lost this general sense and now means "south wind" (literally, "African (wind)").
Abril Spanish, Portuguese
from an old personal name, Abril, based on the name of the month (from Latin aprilis, "April")... [more]
Abundio Spanish, Galician
From the given name Abundio.
Aburto Basque, Spanish, Mexican
Topographic name from Basque aburto "place of kermes oaks", derived from abur "kermes oak".
Acampora Italian, Medieval Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian)
Acampora is a variant of Acanfora, from the medieval personal name Canfora, from canfora ‘camphor’ (from Arabic kāfūr).
Acebo Spanish
panish: Habitational Name From A Place Named Acebo, For Example In Cáceres Province; The Place Name Is From Acebo ‘Holly’ (Latin Aquifolium, Literally ‘Sharp-Leafed’).
Acero Spanish
From acero "steel, steelworker" (from Late Latin aciarium), an occupational name for a metal worker or an armorer.
Acevedo Spanish
Derived from Spanish acebedo meaning "holly grove", itself from acebo meaning "holly tree".
Achard French, South American
From the given name Achard.
Achio Spanish (Latin American)
Possibly derived from the town, Achio, near Guadalajara in Mexico. The name itself is probably from the Nahuatl achio meaning "frequent".
Acosta Spanish
Surname (from location)... [more]
Acuña Galician, Spanish
Derived from a place named "Acuña Alta".
Acuna Spanish (Latin American)
Related tho the Acuna Indians of Mexico, there is also a city by the name. Popular in border areas of Mexico and Texas.
Adão Portuguese
From the given name Adão.
Adauto Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
From the given name Adauto.
Adonis South American, Southern African
From the given name Adonis. This surname is particularly common in parts of South Africa, Haiti, and Guyana
Adriano Portuguese, Spanish, Italian
From the given name Adriano.
Advíncula Spanish
Perhaps from Latin ad vincula "in chains", a title of Saint Peter.
Afonso Portuguese
Old (6th century derived) Iberian surname, associated with the first dynasty and King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques. The surname was used by all the subsequent illegitimate children of that dynastic line.
Afonso Portuguese, Galician
From the given name Afonso.
Agramonte Spanish
habitational name from Agramonte in A Coruña and Lugo (Galicia).
Agraz Spanish
Refers to an ancient type of grape. In Spanish, agraz means "sour grape, unripe grape, verjuice" Possibly an occupational name for someone who worked on a vineyard or in the wine-making industry... [more]
Agron Spanish
From the town of Agrón in Granada, Spain.
Agudo Spanish
Agudo is sharp in spanish
Aguia Portuguese, Galician
Portuguese and Galician cognate of Águila.
Aguiar Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Aguilar.
Águila Spanish
From águila "eagle" (Latin aquila). This is either a nickname for a haughty man or one with an aquiline nose, or a habitational name from a place in Salamanca province called Águila.
Agundez Spanish
Likely derived from from Persian آخوند (akhund) meaning "cleric, teacher".
Agustin Spanish
From the given name Agustin.
Ahumada Spanish
topographic or habitational name from a place named with ahumar "to smoke", possibly denoting a place where ham and other meats were smoked or alternatively a place that had been cleared for settlement by burning... [more]
Aimar Medieval English, Spanish
1. From the Old English pre 7th Century personal name "Æðelmær", meaning "famous noble." ... [more]
Ainstein German (Hispanicized), Spanish (Latin American)
Hispanicized form of Einstein. Most frequently used in Argentina.
Aitana Spanish
From the name of a mountain in Valencia, Spain.
Aja Spanish
Means "adze" in Spanish, denoting a person who uses the tool.
Alabanza Spanish
Means "praise" in Spanish, possibly denoted for a worshipper. from Spanish alabar "to praise" and a suffix. Travis Alabanza (1995-) is a British performance artist, writer, and theatremaker.
Alameda Spanish
Topographic name from alameda meaning ‘poplar grove’, a collective form of álamo meaning ‘poplar’, or a habitational name from any of the many places named with this word.
Alamillo Spanish
Spanish: topographic name from alamillo a diminutive of álamo 'poplar' or a habitational name from any of the many places called with this word in particular one in Ciudad Real.
Álamo Spanish, Portuguese
Either a topographic name from álamo "poplar" or a habitational name from any of several places in Spain and Portugal named with this word.
Alanís Spanish
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous Andalusian municipality.
Alarcón Spanish
Alarcón was a fort owned by the arabs in the Iberian Peninsula (Alarcón literally meaning 'the fort' in arabic), and the spaniards had the goal of owning it during the spanish reconquista. After 9 months of siege, Fernán Martínez de Ceballos climbed the walls of the fort using only two daggers and opened the gates from the inside allowing the castillan army to come in and conquer Alarcón... [more]
Alario Italian, Spanish
Ultimately from Ancient Roman. Derived from the given name Hilarius.
Albinez Spanish
Means "son of Albino".
Albino Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
From the given name Albino
Albo Spanish, Italian, Jewish
It is derived from the name Albert, Alberto, Albino, and Alberico.... [more]
Alcaide Spanish, Portuguese
Ancient occupational or status name from alcaide from Arabic al-qāʾid "the leader, the commander" (see Kaid)... [more]
Alcalá Spanish
Derived from numerous towns with this name (fortified villages during the Moorish occupation of Spain), derived from Arabic القلعة (al-qalʿah) meaning "fortress, fortification, citadel".
Alcalde Spanish
Spanish: from alcalde 'mayor' from Arabic al-qāḍī 'the judge' a title dating from the days of Moorish rule in Spain.
Alcántara Spanish
Habitational name denoting someone originally from the municipality of Alcántara in Extremadura, Spain. The name is ultimately derived from Arabic اَلْقَنْطَرَة‎ (al-qanṭara) meaning "the bridge".
Alcântara Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Alcántara.
Alcantara Spanish, Filipino
Simplified form of Alcántara.
Alcaraz Spanish
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous Manchego municipality.
Alcázar Spanish
Habitational name from any of various places for example in the provinces of Ciudad Real Cuenca and Granada named with the word alcázar "citadel" or "palace" (from Arabic al "the" and qaṣr "fortress" a borrowing of Latin castrum; see Castro).
Alcobendas Spanish
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous Manchego municipality.
Aldaia Basque, Spanish
From the name of a municipality in Valencia, Spain, probably derived from Arabic الضيعة‎ (ad-day'a) meaning "the village" (compare Aldea).
Aldea Spanish
Topographic name meaning "village, hamlet" in Spanish, ultimately from Arabic الضيعة‎ (ad-day'a).
Alderete Spanish
Habitational name from any of the places in Galicia (Spain) and Portugal called Alderete probably from a Gothic personal name or derived from the Old English personal, or first name “Aldrich,” which means old ruler
Alegre Spanish, Portuguese
Nickname from alegre "bright, merry" (Latin alacer).
Alegria Spanish, Portuguese
In Spanish, the name is from a location.... [more]
Aleixo Portuguese
From the given name Aleixo.
Alejandra Spanish
Feminine form of Alejandro.
Alejandre Spanish
Variant of Alejandro.
Alejandro Spanish
From the personal name Alejandro, Spanish form of Alexander.
Alejo Spanish
From the given name Alejo.
Alemán Spanish
from alemán an ethnic name for a German also used as a nickname for a Spanish person having some connection with Germany. Cognate to Allman and Allemand.
Alfredo Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
From the given name Alfredo.
Alhambra Spanish
Refers to the Alhambra, a palace complex located in Granada, Spain. The name itself is derived from Arabic الْحَمْرَاء‎‎ (Al-Ḥamrā) meaning "the red one" or, ultimately, from Arabic أَحْمَر (ʾaḥmar) "red".
Alicea Spanish (Latin American)
Derived from the given name Alicia.
Alipante Portuguese (Portuguese-style, Rare)
The meaning of the given name Alipante represents compassion, creativity, reliability, generosity, loyalty and a love for domestic life.... [more]
Allala Basque, Spanish
Variant spelling of Ayala, in at least one case altered to avoid confusion with an unrelated person of the same name, and apparently to distance the bearer from prejudice against hispanics.
Allende Basque, Spanish
Means "beyond, yonder; on the other side" in Spanish, though it possibly derives from Basque aihen "vine, shoot" or ale "grain" combined with the collective suffix -di, meaning "pasture, cereal field".
Almada Portuguese
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous city.
Almanza Spanish
Originally indicated a person from Almanza, a city in northern Spain. The city's name itself is derived from Arabic المنزل (al-manzil) meaning "the house".
Almarza Spanish
This indicates familial origin within either of 2 localities: the Castilian municipality of Almarza, Comarca of El Valle or the Riojan municipality of Almarza de Cameros.
Almazán Spanish
Habitational name demoting someone originally from the municipality of Almazán in Castile and León, Spain. The name itself is derived from Arabic المكان المحصن (al-makān al-ḥiṣn) meaning "the fortified place" or "the stronghold".
Almazan Spanish (Americanized), Filipino
Unaccented form of Almazán primarily used in America and the Philippines.
Almenara Spanish
Almenara in Spanish is "beacon", but it is an old kind of beacon that consisted of a fire that was lit on top of the battlements to give a signal.
Almira Spanish, Spanish (Philippines)
Occupational surname meaning "admiral", referring to the highest rank in the navy, derived from the Spanish almirante meaning "admiral"
Almodóvar Spanish
Spanish form of Almodovar.
Almodôvar Portuguese
Portuguese form of Almodovar.
Almoguera Spanish
It indicates familial origin within the eponymous Manchego municipality.
Almonte Spanish
From a place between Huelva and Sevilla. Means "the mountain".
Alpízar Spanish
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous locality in the Andalusian province of Huelva.
Altamirano Spanish
Spanish: Habitational Name For Someone From Any Of Several Places Called Altamira (See Altamira ).
Alva Spanish
Variant of Alba.
Álváez Spanish (Latin American)
Variant of Álvarez. Most frequently used in Panama.
Alvalle Spanish (Latin American)
A beautiful valley in Ortona
Alvarenga Portuguese
This indicates familial origin within either of 2 eponymous parishes.
Álvares Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Álvarez.
Álvaro Spanish
Either derived from the given name Alvaro or a variant of Alvarez.
Alvear Spanish
Unexplained.
Alza Spanish
Means "to rise" or simply "rise"
Amadeu Portuguese
From the given name Amadeu.
Amado Spanish
From the given name Amado.
Amâncio Portuguese
From the given name Amâncio.
Amaral Portuguese
Unknown origin. It may come from the name of a country estate near Viseu, Portugal (quinta do Amaral) or from an old word meaning "place full of clary sages". This is also the name of a variety of red wine grape in northern Portugal whose name comes directly from the surname.
Amaro Spanish, Portuguese
From the given name Amaro.
Amaro Spanish
Originated in Italy
Amaya Spanish, Basque (Hispanicized)
From the name of a mountain and an ancient city in the province of Burgos, Spain, possibly derived from Basque amai "end, ending" and the article suffix -a. Compare the given name Amaia.
Ambrìz Spanish
" Probably a variant of Asturian-Leonese Ambres, a habitational name from a village in Asturies. Also a habitational name of Ámbriz a city in Angola, Africa, mainly of Portuguese descendants. "
Ambrocio Spanish
From the given name Ambrocio.
Américo Portuguese, Spanish
From the given name Américo.
Amestoy Spanish, French, Basque
From Basque Ameztoia, a common place name in Basque Country meaning "oak forest".
Amiano Spanish, Portuguese
From the given name Amiano
Amor Spanish, Portuguese
Means "love" in Spanish and Portuguese, likely denoting an illegitimate child and also a philanderer. It could also be from the given name Amor... [more]
Amora Portuguese
Meaning "blackberry".
Amore Spanish
meaning love
Amores Spanish
From a nickname for a philanderer meaning "loves" in Spanish, the plural of amor meaning "love".
Amorim Portuguese
Cognate with spanish Amorín.
Anastacio Spanish
From the given name Anastacio.
Anastasio Italian, Spanish
From the given name Anastasio.
Andaluz Spanish
Means "from Andalusia" or "from Spain", derived from the region of Spain called Andalucía, once called Al-Ándalus (a classical Arab name for the Iberian Peninsula)... [more]
Andújar Spanish
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous Andalusian municipality.
Anes Portuguese
Means "son of João" in Portuguese.
Angel Spanish, Catalan, Occitan, English, Slovene
From the Latin personal name Angelus meaning "Angel", derived from the Greek word ἄγγελος (angelos) meaning "messenger" (see the given name Angel).
Anguiano Spanish (Latinized, Modern)
Anguiano is a small town in the province of La Rioja, Spain.
Anguila Catalan, Spanish (Latin American)
Ultimately from Latin anguis "snake".
Anguis Spanish
Ultimately from Latin meaning "snake".
Aniceto Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
From the given name Aniceto.
Antigua Spanish
From Spanish meaning "antique".
Antolin Spanish
1 Spanish (Antolín): from the personal name, a vernacular form of Antoninus, a name borne by thirteen saints.... [more]
Antoñanzas Spanish
It indicates familial origin within the eponymous neighborhood of the Riojan municipality of Munilla.
Antuña Spanish
From the given name Antonio.
Antuniez Spanish, Galician, Asturian
Meaning "son of Antonius." It is a last name that appears in northern Spain.
Aparício Portuguese
Cognate with spanish Aparicio.
Aparicio Spanish
Derived from the Latin word “aparitio” meaning “appearance” or “arrival”. It may also be a habitational name, indicating a person who lived near or at a place with the same name.
Apolinar Spanish
From the given name Apolinar
Apolinario Portuguese, Spanish
From the given name Apolinario; variant of Apolinar.
Apollo Italian, Spanish
From the Greek personal name Apollo. There are several saints Apollo in the Christian Church, including an Egyptian hermit and monastic leader who died in 395 ad. The personal name derives from the name in classical mythology of the sun god, Apollo, an ancient Indo-European name, found for example in Hittite as Apulana "god of the gate" (from pula "gate", cognate with Greek pylē), therefore "protector, patron".
Aponte Spanish
A misdivision of Daponte. It originates from Majorca, Spain.
Apóstol Spanish (Rare)
Means "apostle" in Spanish.
Apúlia Portuguese
Refers to a town named "Apúlia" in Portugal.
Aràbia Italian, Spanish
Ethnic name for someone from Arabia or some other Arabic-speaking country or a nickname for someone who had visited or traded with one of these countries.
Aragón Spanish
Habitational name from Aragon Spain which was an independent kingdom from 1035 to 1479. It took its name from the river Aragón which arises in its northwestern corner... [more]
Aragon Spanish, Catalan, French
A surname and an autonomous community of Spain.
Aramburo Spanish
Castilianized variant of Aramburú.
Aramburú Basque (Hispanicized), Spanish
Habitational or topographic name derived from Basque (h)aran "valley" and buru "head, top, summit".
Aranda Spanish
Habitational name from any of various places for example Aranda de Duero in Burgos province which bears a name of pre-Roman probably Celtic origin.
Arands English, Spanish
Anglicized version of a name given to residents of Aranda de Duero, a small town in the north of Spain.
Aranha Portuguese
Meaning spider in Portuguese.
Araquistain Basque, Spanish
From Basque Arakistain, possibly derived from ira(k) "fern" and the toponymic suffix -ain.
Arboleda Spanish
From arboleda meaning "grove of trees". This is the name of a prominent Colombian family, in which case it is derived from their region of origin in Arboleya, Spain.
Arceo Spanish
From the name of the town of Arceo in La Coruña, Galicia.
Archila Spanish
Either a variant of Arcila or derived from Arabic الشَّلَّال (aš-šallāl) meaning "the waterfall".
Archuleta Spanish, English
Castilianized form of Basque Aretxuloeta, a topographic name meaning "oak hollow".
Arcila Spanish (Latin American)
Means "clay" in Spanish. (compare Arcilla)
Arellano Basque, Spanish
From the name of a town in Nevarre, Spain, of uncertain etymology. Possibly derived from either of the Latin personal names Valerius or Aurelius, indicating land owned by someone of the name, or from Basque aritz "oak (tree)" (see haritz).
Arenzana Spanish
It indicates familial origin within either of 2 La Riojan municipalities: Arenzana de Abajo or Arenzana de Arriba.
Arévalo Spanish
Habitational name from any of the places called Arévalo in the provinces of Ávila and Soria of pre-Roman origin.
Arganda Spanish (Latin American), Spanish
town in spain / arganda del rey
Argomaniz Spanish
Spanish: Habitational Name From A Place Called Argomaniz (In Castilian: Argómaniz) In The Araba/Álava Province.
Arguello Spanish
It had its cradle in the so-called Brotherhood of Argüello, formed by the councils of Val de Lugueros, Mediana de Argüello and La Tercia del Camino (León), from where its branches spread throughout Spain.
Argueta Spanish
This surname was most likely originally used to identify a person who lived in a characteristically bright or luminous area.
Arguijo Spanish
Spanish: Habitational Name From A Place Called Arguijo In Zamora Province.
Ariza Spanish
Spanish: habitational name from a place so named in Zaragoza province in Aragón.
Arjona Spanish
Habitational name from Arjona in Jaén province.
Armada Spanish (Philippines), Spanish
Taken directly from the Spanish word meaning "navy, fleet."
Armas Spanish
Occupational name for an arms maker or soldier, from Spanish armas meaning "arms, weapons".
Armendariz Spanish, Basque
Variant of Basque Armendaritze, a habitational name from a village in Low Navarre named Armendaritze, or directly from a patronymic form of the Basque personal name Armendari or Armentari, from Latin Armentarius "herdsman".
Armenia Italian, Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese
Ethnic name or regional name for someone from Armenia or who had connections with Armenia. This surname is derived from the feminine form of Armenio, which is ultimately from Greek Αρμένιος (Armenios) meaning "Armenian"... [more]
Armenteros Spanish
Habitational name from either of two places called Armenteros, in the provinces of Ávila and Salamanca, from the plural of armenatero meaning ‘cowherd’, from Latin armenta ‘herd(s)’.
Armijo Spanish
Derived from the Spanish adjetive "armigero", meaning "one who bears arms". First found in the Northern Region of Spain in Cantabria. Alternate spellings include: Armijos, Armigo, and Armija.
Arminio Spanish, Italian, Sicilian
From the given name Arminio.
Armona Portuguese
It indicates familial origin on the eponymous island in the municipality of Olhão.
Arola Spanish, Catalan, Occitan, English (American)
From Latin areola, diminutive of area (area).
Arredondo Spanish
habitational name from a place in Cantabria named Arredondo possibly from redondo 'round' because of the roundish shape of the hill on which it stands.
Artigas Aragonese, Catalan, Spanish
Plural form of artiga, referring to land cleared for agriculture.... [more]
Arturo Italian, Spanish
From the given name Arturo.
Ascencio Spanish, Italian
From the personal name (Latin Ascensius), favored by the early Christians, by whom it was bestowed with reference to the ascension of Christ (Late Latin ascensio).
Asunción Spanish
Means "assumption" in Spanish, referring to the bodily taking up of Mary, the mother of Jesus, into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. The unaccented form, Asuncion, is much more common.
Ataídes Portuguese
For people descending from inhabitants of Freguesia do Ataíde, in Portugal; currently part of Vila Meã, or related to the noble family who owned those lands. The place was probably named after Athanagild, 6th-century king of Visigothic Hispania and probable founder of the village.
Atamaint Shuar, Indigenous American, South American
The surname of a certain indigenous Ecuadorian politician.
Atanacio Spanish
From the given name Atanacio.
Atienza Spanish, Filipino
Habitational name from the municipality of Atienza in Guadalajara province, Spain.
Auñón Spanish
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous Manchego municipality.
Aurélio Portuguese
From the given name Aurélio
Aurelio Italian, Spanish
From the given name Aurelio
Aurora Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Occitan, Portuguese
Means "dawn" in Latin (see the given name Aurora).
Ávalos Spanish
Etymologists note the name signifies a "native of Abalos" and the progenitor was someone who hailed from that location.
Avamilano Spanish, Italian
Of Spanish origin, but probably has its roots in Italy due to the word "milano" which means Milan in Italian.