South American Submitted Surnames

Camino Spanish
Derived from the Spanish word for "path", or "walkway". This could have been used to denote a person who lived near a path, or one who built paths for a living.

Campomar Spanish, South American

Campus Spanish
Derived from the Latin word campus, meaning "field". It denoted someone who either lived in a field or worked in one.

Campuzano Spanish (Latin American)

Canabrava Brazilian
Cana is the short form of 'cana de açucar' that means "sugar cane", and Brava is the feminine form of 'bravo' that means "angry". There is a municipality in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, called Canabrava do Norte, and according to oral tradition, the origin of the name is due to the disease and subsequent death of some animals after eating a plantation of sugar cane.

Canales Spanish
Spanish: habitational name from any of several places called Canales, from canales, plural of canal ‘canal’, ‘water channel’, from Latin canalis.

Canalez Spanish
Variant of Canales.

Canavese Portuguese

Cancino Spanish
A name for a person who first held the position of Chancellor.

Cancio Spanish
A name for a person who first held the position of Chancellor.

Candamo Spanish (Latin American)

Candela Spanish, Italian, Sicilian, Catalan
Either an occupational name for a chandler (a candle maker or candle seller) or a nickname for a tall thin person, derived from candela meaning "candle" (from Latin candela).

Candelario Spanish
From the given name Candelario

Canela Spanish
Derived from the word 'canela' meaning cinnamon in Spanish. It Could also be a variant of the Catalan surname Candela.

Canelo Spanish
From spanish canela meaning "cinnamon". Perhaps a nickname for someone with red hair.

Cañete Spanish (Philippines), Spanish (Latin American)
Habitational name for a person from any of the places in Spain called Cañete, such as Cañete de las Torres (Seville), Cañete la Real (Málaga) and Cañete (Cuenca).

Cangussu Brazilian
The surname Cangussu has its origins in the Tupi-Guarani language and is a variation of Akangu’su, which means "jaguar".

Canhoto Portuguese
Means "left-handed" in Portuguese.

Canizales Spanish (Latin American)
This surname came from around the beginnings of 1800 in south regions of Colombia where sugar cane was cultivated. It's a variation of Cañizales, that literally means "sugar cane fields".

Canomanuel Spanish
The first part of this surname is possibly derived from Spanish cano "hoary, white-haired, grey-haired". The second part is derived from the given name Manuel... [more]

Canto Portuguese

Cantor Spanish
Occupational name for a singer.

Canuto Italian, Filipino, Spanish
From an Italian nickname derived from canuto meaning "white-haired".

Caodaglio Portuguese (Brazilian)

Capelo Portuguese

Capriel Spanish (Latin American)

Carabajal Spanish, Judeo-Spanish
Variant of Carbajal.

Caraballo Spanish
Occupational name for a knight or a knight's servant.

Carabantes Spanish
It indicates familial origin within the eponymous municipality.

Cárave Spanish

Cáraves Spanish

Carbajal Spanish, Judeo-Spanish
Probably a habitational name denoting someone originally from any of the multiple locations called Carbajal in León, Asturias, or Zamora in Spain. Alternatively, it may be of pre-Roman origin from the word carbalio meaning "oak", denoting someone who either lived near an oak tree or who was like an oak tree in some way.... [more]

Carbajo Spanish

Carballeda Spanish

Carbonero Spanish
Famous bearers are Carlos Carbonero, a Colombian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Sampdoria on loan from Fénix and Sara Carbonero, a Spanish sports journalist.

Cárcamo Basque (Hispanicized), Spanish
Castilianized form of the toponym Karkamu.

Carcelén Spanish
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous Manchego municipality.

Cardenal Spanish, Spanish (Latin American)
Spanish cognitive of Cardinal. This surname is common in Nicaragua.

Cardenes Spanish

Cardenete Spanish
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous Manchego municipality.

Cardenos Spanish
Variant of Cárdenas.

Cardo Spanish, Italian
From cardo "thistle, cardoon" (from Latin carduus) either a topographic or occupational name for using wool carder thistles, or from the given name Cardo a short form of given names Accardo, Biancardo, or Riccardo.

Cariba Brazilian

Carillo Spanish, Italian
From a diminutive of the given name Caro.

Carimbo Portuguese

Carino Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
From the given name Carino.

Carioca Portuguese

Carlos Spanish, Portuguese
Derived from the given name Carlos.

Carmello Brazilian, Italian

Carmoly French, Brazilian

Carneiro Portuguese, Galician
Means "ram" in Portuguese and Galician, either used as an occupational name for a shepherd or a habitational name for someone from any of various places called Carneiro.

Carneiro Portuguese (Brazilian)
Originally from Portugal.

Caroline Brazilian

Carpintero Spanish
Means "carpenter" in Spanish.

Carrabau Portuguese

Carrasquillo Spanish
Diminutive of Carrasco.

Carrasquillo Spanish
The surname Carrasquillo is of Spanish origin and it is derived from the word "carrasca" which means "holm oak". Therefore, the name roughly translates to "a place where there are holm oaks".

Carreira Portuguese, Galician
Portuguese and Galician cognate of Carrera.

Carrer Spanish
Variant of Carrera.

Carrera Spanish, Italian
Spanish: topographic name for someone living by a main road, carrera ‘thoroughfare’, originally a road passable by vehicles as well as pedestrians (Late Latin carraria (via), a derivative of carrum ‘cart’), or a habitational name from any of various places named with this word.... [more]

Carrere Spanish, Spanish (Philippines)

Carriedo Spanish

Carrió Spanish

Carrión Spanish
It comes from the knight Alonso Carreño, who distinguished himself in the conquest of the town of Carrión de los Condes (Palencia), where he founded his solar house.

Carrizo Spanish
Nickname for a person who's bold, shameless.

Carro Spanish

Carrusca Portuguese

Cartagena Spanish
From the name of the city of Cartagena in southeastern Spain, derived from Latin Carthāgō Nova meaning "New Carthage" (ultimately derived from Phonecian qrt-ḥdšt meaning "new city").

Carvajal Spanish, Judeo-Spanish, Caribbean
Variant of Carbajal.

Carvoeiro Portuguese
Derived from the Portuguese word "carvão," which means "coal." It likely originated as a surname for someone who worked with or lived near coal, or it could have been a nickname based on physical characteristics or personal attributes associated with coal.

Casa Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
Means "house" in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.

Casablanca Spanish

Casablancas Spanish
Unknown.

Casabuena Spanish (Modern, Rare)
Means "Happy House" or "House of Happiness" in Spanish, with the Spanish word "Casa", which means "House" and Buena, meaning "Happy" or "Happiness".

Casamiro Filipino, Portuguese (Brazilian)
Variant of Casimiro.

Casares Spanish, Galician
One who lived in several places named "Casares".

Casarez Spanish

Casarrubias Spanish
Topographic name from the plural of Spanish casa rubia ‘red house’.

Casavantes French, Spanish, Basque
Topographic name composed of casa "house" + avant "ahead of forward" + the suffix -es, denoting one who lived in the house located at the beginning of a village. This surname has died out in France.

Cascalho Portuguese (?)
What I know about this surname is that it came from Alentejo, a region in Portugal countryside. The eldest Cascalho I know lived in Évora (city in this province) so I assume the name born there...

Casco Spanish

Casemiro Portuguese
Variant of Casimiro.

Casiano Spanish
From the given name Casiano.

Casilla Spanish

Casillas Spanish
From any of various places called Casillas or Las Casillas, from the plural of casilla, a diminutive of Casa. ... [more]

Casillo Spanish

Casillos Spanish

Casimiro Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Filipino
From the given name Casimiro.

Casio Spanish
From the given name Casio.

Caso Italian, Spanish

Cassatta Spanish (Latin American)
Spanish form of Cassata. Mostly used in Argentina.

Cassemiro Portuguese (Brazilian)
Variant of Casimiro.

Cassimiro Portuguese
Variant of Casimiro.

Castaña Spanish (Philippines), Spanish (Latin American)
From Spanish meaning "chestnut". Could be a nickname for someone having chestnut hair.

Castanati Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish Origins

Castañez Spanish (Latin American)
Variant of Castaño.

Castanha Portuguese
From Portuguese meaning "chestnut". Could be a nickname for someone having chestnut hair.

Castanheira Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Castañeda meaning "chestnut grove".

Castanho Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Castaño meaning "chestnut tree".

Castaño Spanish, Galician
Means "chestnut tree" in Spanish and Galician.

Castañón Spanish
Possibly derived from Spanish castaño, meaning "chestnut tree". Alternatively, it may be derived from castañón, which is the Spanish word for the kippernut plant (species Conopodium majus).

Castelblanco Spanish

Castellanos Spanish
Habitational name from any of various places called Castellanos, derived from Spanish castellano meaning "Castilian".

Castelli Judeo-Italian, Italian, Spanish
Italian patronymic or plural form of Castello. ... [more]

Castellon Spanish

Castelo Branco Portuguese
Means “White Castle” in Portuguese.... [more]

Castor English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Filipino
From the given name Castor.

Castrejon Spanish
Habitational Name From Any Of Various Places Called Castrejón Especially In Valladolid Province Or A Topographic Name From A Diminutive Of Castro ‘Castle’ From Latin Castrum ‘Fort Roman Walled City’.

Catarino Spanish, Portuguese, Greek
Meaning "pure".

Caulin Spanish

Cava Italian, Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese
From cava ‘cave’, ‘cellar’ (from Latin cavea), hence a metonymic occupational name for someone employed in the wine cellars of a great house, a topographic name for someone who lived in or near a cave, or a habitational name from any of numerous places named with this word.

Cavaleiro Portuguese
From a nickname derived from Portuguese cavaleiro meaning "knight", a cognate of Galician Cabaleiro.

Cavalheiro Portuguese
Variant of Cavaleiro.

Cavas Italian, Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese
Plural form of Cava.

Cayetano Spanish

Cayetano Spanish (Latin American), Spanish (Philippines)
From the given name Cayetano.

Cazares Spanish

Ceballo Spanish

Ceballos Spanish

Cebreiro Jewish, Portuguese
Cebreiro is an olive tree.

Cebrián Spanish
From the given name Cebrián.

Cedena Spanish

Cedo Spanish

Ceja Spanish
From a common field name or a habitational name from any of various minor places called Ceja Yecla in Aragon.

Celda Spanish (Modern, Rare), Filipino (Modern, Rare)
The Spanish word for 'cell', as in prison cell.

Celedon Spanish
Spanish (Celedón): From The Old Personal Name Celedón From Celedonio From Greek Chelidonios ‘Like A Swallow’ Through Latin Chelidonius.

Celedonio Spanish
From the given name Celedonio.

Celeste Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
From the given name Celeste.

Celestino Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
From the given name Celestino.

Celino Italian, Spanish
From the given name Celino

Celio Italian, Spanish
From the given name Celio

Celso Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
From the given name Celso.

Cendejas Spanish
Cendejas is a city in Guadalahara. It is short for Cendejas de la Torre.

Cenobio Spanish
From the given name Cenobio.

Cenrada Portuguese

Centurión Spanish
Originally a nickname derived from Spanish centurión (ultimately from Late Latin centum) literally meaning "centurion". Historically, a centurion is a military officer who commanded one hundred men in an Ancient Roman army during the classical period.

Cepeda Spanish
A nickname for someone from the region where they grow vineyards.

Cera Spanish, Italian, Catalan, Sicilian
Metonymic occupational name for a wax seller, derived from Latin cera meaning "wax". A famous bearer of this surname is Canadian actor and musician Michael Cera (1988-).

Cerda Spanish, Portuguese
Nickname for a person with a prominent tuft of hair, derived from Spanish and Portuguese cerda meaning "bristle, stiff, coarse, short, thick hair", ultimately from Late Latin cirra.

Cerin Spanish (Latin American)

Cerpa Spanish

Cerqua Spanish

Cerqueira Portuguese
Habitational name from any of various places named Cerquerira, in most cases from a Latin derivative of quercus "oak". The family name also occurs in Sicily, probably of the same origin.

Cerrajero Spanish
Occupational name for a locksmith.

Cerva Portuguese, Italian
"Cerva" means deer.

Cervante Spanish

Cervera Spanish
A name for someone coming from any one of many places called Cervera, coming from Late Latin cervaria, meaning "place of stags".

César Portuguese

Cesar Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, Occitan, French
From the given name César.

Cesário Portuguese (Brazilian)
From the given name Cesário.

Cespedes Spanish
From the plural of cesped "peat", "turf" (Latin caespes, genitive caespitis), applied as a habitational name from a place named Céspedes (for example in Burgos province) or named with this word, or a topographic name for someone who lived by an area of peat, or possibly as a metonymic occupational name for someone who cut and sold turf.

Cevallo Spanish

Cevallos Spanish

Chacha South American

Chacon Spanish
Spanish (Chacón): nickname from chacón ‘gecko’.

Changanaquí Quechua
Hispanized form original Quechua Changanacuy meaning "Crossroad"

Chapa Spanish
An occupational name for a metalworker meaning "metal sheet", amongst other things. It may also come from the name of a place in Galicia, Spain, or the Basque word and oak bush, "chaparro".

Chaparro Spanish

Chapin French, Spanish
From a reduced form of French eschapin or Spanish chapín, a term for a light (woman's) shoe; perhaps a nickname for someone who habitually wore this type of footwear or possibly a metonymic occupational name for a shoemaker.

Chapiro Jewish (Ashkenazi, Hispanicized), Spanish (Latin American), German
Variant and castilianized form of Shapiro.

Chapiro Spanish (Latin American)
Possibly a variant of Chaparro.

Charlo Spanish
From the personal name Carlos

Charlone Spanish

Chavez Spanish, Filipino
Variant of Chávez.

Chavos Portuguese, Spanish

Chica Spanish
Apparently from chica, feminine form of chico ‘small’, ‘young’ (see Chico), but a variant of the habitational name Checa, from a place so named in Jaén province is also a possibility.

Chiclana Spanish
This indicates familial origin within either of 2 eponymous Andalusian municipalities: Chiclana de la Frontera or Chiclana de Segura.

Chido Spanish
Likely given to someone who lived in a cold environment

Chieco Spanish
Derives from the given name Franciscus.

Chilavert Spanish (Latin American)

Chillo South American

Chinchilla Spanish
Originally denoted a person from the Spanish town of Chinchilla de Monte-Aragón in the province of Albacete. The place name is possibly of Arabic origin.

Chinchón Spanish
It indicates familial origin within the eponymous Madrileño municipality.

Chino Indigenous American, Quechua (Hispanicized), Aymara (Hispanicized)
From Quechua/Aymara meaning "girl".

Chirino Spanish
Variant of Quirino.

Choque Indigenous American, Quechua (Hispanicized), Aymara (Hispanicized)

Choquehuanca Spanish (Latin American)

Chuquicondor South American

Cid Spanish, Portuguese

Cifuentes Spanish
Habitational Name Probably From Cifuentes In Guadalajara Named From Spanish Cien ‘Hundred’ (From Latin Centum) + Fuentes ‘Springs’ (From Latin Fontes; See Font ) Because Of The Abundance Of Natural Springs In The Area.

Cintron Spanish
Spanish form for the french "Citroen". Original from Puerto Rico.

Cipriano Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
From the given name Cipriano.

Ciria Spanish
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous Castilian municipality.

Ciriaco Italian, Spanish
From the given name Ciriaco.

Cirino Italian, Spanish
From the given name Cirino.

Ciro Italian, Spanish
From the given name Ciro.

Ciruela Filipino, Spanish (Rare)
From Spanish ciruela meaning "plum".

Cirujano Spanish, Filipino
Means "surgeon" in Spanish, used for someone who was a surgeon by profession.

Cisneros Spanish
Habitational name from Cisneros, a place in the province of Palencia, named with a derivative of Spanish cisne 'swan' (via Old French and Latin from Greek kyknos).

Citronella South American

Claudio Italian, Spanish
From the given name Claudio

Clavel Spanish
Metonymic occupational name for a spice trader or a nail maker, derived from Spanish clavel or Catalan clavell meaning "nail", later also "clove", itself a derivative of Latin clavellus "nail".

Cleto Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
From the given name Cleto.

Clores Spanish, Portuguese
Portuguese form of Flores

Coceres Spanish
Variant of Caceres.

Cocori Spanish

Codorniz Spanish
Spanish word for quail. From Latin cōturnīx, cōturnīcis.

Coimbra Portuguese
Habitational name for someone from the city of Coimbra in Portugal.

Colegio Spanish
Literally means "college" in Spanish.

Colindrez Spanish

Collar English, Spanish

Collazo Medieval Italian, Spanish

Colmenares Spanish
It literally means "apiaries", denoting someone who either worked at some or lived near some.

Colmenero Spanish

Coloma Spanish (Latin American)

Colomer Spanish

Colon Spanish (Americanized), Filipino
Unaccented form of Colón primarily used in America and the Philippines.

Colonia Spanish, Italian
Form of Cologne.

Colque Indigenous American, Aymara (Hispanicized)
Derived from Aymara qullqi, meaning "silver".

Comas Catalan, Spanish (Latin American)

Comica Spanish, American

Company Spanish

Conceição Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Concepción.

Concepción Spanish
Means "conception'' in Spanish, in reference to the Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary.

Concepcion Spanish (Filipinized)
Unaccented form of Concepción primarily used in the Philippines and America.

Conde Spanish
1 Spanish and Portuguese: “nickname from the title of rank conde ‘count’, a derivative of Latin comes, comitis ‘companion’.”... [more]

Condor Catalan (Hispanicized), Spanish (Latin American)

Condori Indigenous American, Aymara (Hispanicized), Quechua (Hispanicized)
Derived from Aymara and Quechua kunturi meaning "condor, vulture".

Conejo Spanish
from conejo "rabbit" (from Latin cuniculus), presumably applied as a nickname with various possible connotations (big ears, timidity, etc.) or otherwise as a metonymic occupational name for a rabbit catcher or dealer... [more]

Conrado Spanish
From the given name Conrado

Consuelo Spanish

Consuelos Spanish

Contardo Italian, Spanish
From the given name Contardo.

Contes Spanish

Coral Spanish

Corcovado Spanish
Means "hunchback" in Spanish. It would denote a person with a curved spine.

Cordeiro Portuguese, Galician
Means "young lamb" in Portuguese and Galician (Latin cordarius, a derivative of cordus "young", "new")... [more]

Cordero Spanish
Means "lamb" in Spanish, either used as an occupational name for a shepherd or a religious name referring to Jesus as the Lamb of God.

Córdoba Spanish
Indicates someone who was originally from the city of Córdoba (Cordova) in Andalusia, Spain. The name itself is derived from Phonecian Qʾrtuba meaning "Juba’s city", itself from Phonecian qʾrt meaning "city" and juba referring to King Juba I of Numidia.

Córdova Spanish
Variant of Córdoba.

Coreano Filipino, Spanish, Portuguese
Means "Korean" in Spanish and Portuguese, possibly an ethnic name or regional name for someone from Korea or who had connections with Korea.

Coreia Portuguese (Brazilian)
Variant of Correia.

Corimanya Spanish (Latin American)

Coris Spanish (Latin American)

Cornelio Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
From the given name Cornelio. Cognitive of Cornell and Cornelius.

Coron Spanish

Corona Spanish

Coronado Spanish
from coronado "crowned" past participle of coronare "to crown" (from Latin corona "crown") applied as a nickname for someone who behaved in an imperious manner or derived from the village Coronado in Galacia.

Coronado Spanish (Latin American), American (Hispanic), Spanish (Philippines)
Means "crowned." This was possibly a nickname for one resembling a clergyman who has received the tonsure.

Coronel Spanish, Portuguese
Means "colonel" in Spanish and Portuguese, used as an occupational name for someone in command of a regiment.

Corpancho Spanish (Latin American)

Corral Spanish

Corrales Spanish
Habitational name for someone originally from any of the various locations named Corrales in Spain, from Spanish corral meaning "coral, enclosure".

Corsino Filipino, Spanish (Latin American), Portuguese (Brazilian), Italian
Diminutive of Corso.

Corso Italian, English (American), Spanish (Latin American), Portuguese (Brazilian)
Either derived from the given name Bonaccorso or taken from Italian and Spanish corso, denoting someone who lived in Corsica.

Corte Spanish, Catalan, Italian, Portuguese
From corte "court", applied as an occupational name for someone who worked at a manorial court or a topographic name for someone who lived in or by one.

Cortês Portuguese
Portuguese form of Cortés.

Cortéz Spanish
Variant of Cortés.

Corvino Italian, Spanish
From the given name Corvino

Corvo Italian, Portuguese
From the given name Corvo

Cossio Spanish

Coti Spanish (Latin American)

Coto Spanish, Galician
Habitational name from any of the many places named "Coto" especially in Galicia and Asturias. From coto meaning "ground".

Cotto Spanish
Variant of Coto.

Coutinho Portuguese
Diminutive of Couto.

Coutiño Spanish (Latin American)
Spanish cognate of Coutinho.

Couto Portuguese (Brazilian)

Covarrubias Spanish (?)

Covarubbias Spanish

Covián Spanish

Crescencio Spanish
From the given name Crescencio

Crescente Italian, Portuguese (?)
From the given name Crescente

Cresencio Filipino, Spanish (Latin American)
From the given name Cresencio

Criado Portuguese, Spanish
Occupational name from criado ‘servant’.

Crisólogo Spanish (Latin American, Rare)
From the given name Crisólogo.

Crisóstomo Spanish, Portuguese
From the given name Crisóstomo.

Crispim Portuguese
Derived from the given name Crispim.

Crispino Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
From the given name Crispino.

Cristales Central American, Filipino, Spanish (Mexican, Rare), South American (Rare)
Plural form of Spanish cristal meaning "crystal."... [more]

Cristóbal Spanish
From the given name Cristóbal.

Cristófanes Spanish
Means "son of Cristóbal" in Spanish.

Cruces South American

Crus Spanish
Variant of Cruz.

Cuadrado Spanish
A nickname for a thick man.

Cuaresma Spanish
It means "Lent".

Cuarto Spanish
Means "fourth" in English. It is derived from the Latin word "quartus," which means "fourth." The surname may have originally been used to denote a fourth child in a family or to indicate that the family lived on the fourth floor of a building.

Cuba Portuguese, Asturian-Leonese, Galician, Spanish
habitational name from any of the places in Portugal (in the provinces of Alentejo and Beira Baixa) or Spain (in Aragon, Asturies, and Galicia) named Cuba, from cuba ‘barrel’ (from Latin cupa)... [more]

Cubero Spanish
occupational name for a cooper, from an agent derivative of cuba ‘barrel’, ‘tub

Cucaracha South American

Cuello Spanish, South American
From Spanish meaning "neck". Could be a nickname for a person with a stiff neck.

Cuenca Spanish
Cuenca is an ancient Spanish last name which originated from Cuenca, a city in the Kingdom of Castilla.... [more]

Cuervo Spanish
Means "raven, crow" in Spanish, ultimately from Latin corvus. From a nickname for a man with strikingly glossy black hair or with a raucous voice. Alternatively, a habitational name from places containing this word (e.g. El Cuervo, Teruel).

Cuneo Spanish

Cunillera Spanish

Curiel Spanish

Curroto Spanish (Latin American)
Spanish surname with unknown origin. Uruguayan / Spanish singer Lucas Curroto has this surname.

Custódio Portuguese
From the given name Custódio.

Custodio Spanish
From the given name Custodio.

Cuzco Spanish

Da Conceiçao Portuguese
Variant of Conceição.

Dacosta Spanish

Da Cruz Portuguese
A variant of Cruz, with the addition of the preposition 'da' (meaning 'of the' or 'from the').

Da Cunha Portuguese
Variant of Cunha.

Da Fonseca Portuguese
Variant of Fonseca.

Dager South American

Dalier Spanish

Dalmau Spanish

D'Almeida Spanish, Portuguese, Indian (Christian)
Variant of Almeida more commonly used by Indian Christians.

Da Lua Portuguese
Means "of the moon" in Portuguese.

Da Luz Portuguese
From a religious epithet meaning ‘of the light’, specifically the Marian name "Nuestra Señora da Luz" (which means "Our Lady of the Light").