Browse Submitted Surnames

This is a list of submitted surnames in which the usage is South American; and the pattern is *a.
usage
pattern
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Abadilla Spanish
Variant of Badilla
Acampora Italian, Medieval Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian)
Acampora is a variant of Acanfora, from the medieval personal name Canfora, from canfora ‘camphor’ (from Arabic kāfūr).
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.
Advíncula Spanish
Perhaps from Latin ad vincula "in chains", a title of Saint Peter.
Aguia Portuguese, Galician
Portuguese and Galician cognate of Águila.
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.
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]
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.
Alcalá Spanish (Latin American)
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".
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.
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).
Alegria Spanish, Portuguese
In Spanish, the name is from a location.... [more]
Alejandra Spanish
Feminine form of Alejandro.
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.
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.
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.
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"
Almoguera Spanish
It indicates familial origin within the eponymous Manchego municipality.
Alva Spanish
Variant of Alba.
Alvarenga Portuguese
This indicates familial origin within either of 2 eponymous parishes.
Alza Spanish
Means "to rise" or simply "rise"
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.
Amendoeira Portuguese
Derived from the Portuguese word for 'almond tree'.
Amiama Spanish
Translating to “Love Love” and meaning to love loving and being happy with helping others ... [more]
Amora Portuguese
Meaning "blackberry".
Anguila Catalan, Spanish (Latin American)
Ultimately from Latin anguis "snake".
Antigua Spanish
From Spanish meaning "antique".
Antuña Spanish
From the given name Antonio.
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.
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.
Aranha Portuguese
Meaning spider in Portuguese.
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.
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)
Arenzana Spanish
It indicates familial origin within either of 2 La Riojan municipalities: Arenzana de Abajo or Arenzana de Arriba.
Arganda Spanish (Latin American), Spanish
town in spain / arganda del rey
Argueta Spanish
This surname was most likely originally used to identify a person who lived in a characteristically bright or luminous area.
Arica Aymara
Refers to a place in modern day Chile near the border of Peru.
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."
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]
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).
Atienza Spanish, Filipino
Habitational name from the municipality of Atienza in Guadalajara province, Spain.
Aurora Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Occitan, Portuguese
Means "dawn" in Latin (see the given name Aurora).
Avellaneda Spanish
It literally means "hazelnut grove", denoting someone who either lived near one or worked in one.
Avena Italian, Spanish
Means "oats" in Spanish and Italian, an occupational surname for a grain grower or merchant. It can also be a toponymic surname derived from Avena, Calabria.
Avenida Spanish (Latin American)
The name translates to English, meaning "avenue."
Azinheira Portuguese
Originates from the Portuguese word "azinheira," which refers to the evergreen oak tree known as the "holm oak"
Baca Spanish
From Spanish vaca meaning "cow".
Baeza Spanish
From a place called Baeza in Andalusia, Spain.
Bahena Spanish
Altered form of the Spanish Baena.
Balenciaga Spanish, Basque
Denoted a person who came from Valencia, derived from Basque Balencia and the locative suffix -aga. A famous bearer of the name was Spanish fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga Eizaguirre (1895-1972), the founder of the clothing brand Balenciaga.
Balmaceda Spanish, Basque
From Balmaseda, the name of a town and municipality in the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country of Spain. It is derived from Spanish val meaning "valley" and Basque mahatseta meaning "vineyard"... [more]
Balza Spanish, Belgian, Filipino (Hispanicized), Italian
Derivation (Belzer, Balzac, Balzer, etc.) of the given name Balthazar, meaning "one of the three wise men."
Bandeira Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Bandera.
Bandera Spanish, Italian, Polish (Rare)
Denoted to a flag bearer or carrier, from Spanish and Polish bandera, meaning "flag, banner, ensign". Variant of Banderas (Spanish) or Bandiera (Italian)... [more]
Barba Spanish
Spanish: nickname for a man noted for his beard, from barba ‘beard’ (Latin barba).
Barbosa Portuguese
denoting a person who lived by land that contained overgrown leafy vegetation from the portuguese word barba "leaf" + oso/osa (adjective suffix); variant of Barboza
Barcelona Catalan, Spanish
Habitational name from Barcelona, the principal city of Catalonia. The place name is of uncertain, certainly pre-Roman, origin. The settlement was established by the Carthaginians, and according to tradition it was named for the Carthaginian ruling house of Barca; the Latin form was Barcino or Barcilo.
Barreira Portuguese, Galician
From several habitations in Galicia and Portugal, from barreira meaning "clay or loam hollow".
Barria Spanish
Variant of Barrio.
Batista Portuguese, Spanish
Portuguese cognate of Bautista as well as a Spanish variant.
Baviera Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Catalan
Means "Bavaria" in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Catalan. Indicating for someone from Bavaria a state in Germany.
Bea Spanish
Habitational name from a place of this name in Teruel.
Becerra Spanish, Galician
Nickname probably for a high-spirited person from becerra "young cow, heifer". It may also have been a metonymic occupational name for a cowherd.
Bedoya Spanish
Castilianized form of Bedoia. Name for someone from Bedoña, in the Spanish province Gipuzkoa. Bedoña likely comes from Basque bedi "pasture grazing" and -oña, suffix for a place name.
Bega Spanish
Variant of Vega.
Berlanga Spanish
From the village or castle named "Berlanga de Duero" from Soria, Spain. Berlanga itself was derived from "berlain" which comes from the name of a precious stone derived from the Greek. So it could be related to stones.
Bessa Portuguese
Origin in the name Beça surname of medieval ancestry
Beteta Spanish
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous Manchego municipality.
Bezerra Portuguese
Means "young cow, heifer" in Portuguese.
Bocachica Spanish (Latin American)
Literally means "little mouth" in Spanish. It could have been given to someone who had a small mouth or a small jaw, or to someone who was known for having a quiet and reserved speaking style. It could also have been a nickname given to someone who had a small but sweet smile.
Bocanegra Spanish
Spanish: nickname from boca ‘mouth’ + negra ‘black’, denoting a foul-mouthed or abusive person. In the form Boccanegra, this surname has also been long established in Italy.
Bomba Portuguese, Spanish, Polish, Ukrainian, Czech, Slovak
From bomba "bomb", (Latin bombus), hence probably a nickname for someone with an explosive temperament, or a metonymic occupational name for an artilleryman.
Bona Catalan, Spanish
Catalan and Spanish surname derived from the Catalan word bona meaning good
Bonba Basque, Spanish
From Basque bonba meaning "bomb", (Latin bombus), hence probably a nickname for someone with an explosive temperament, or a metonymic occupational name for an artilleryman.
Bonilla Spanish
From the area of Spain of the same name
Botella Spanish
From the Spanish word meaning "Bottle".
Braga Portuguese
The first man to own this name was a feudal lord on Portugal, near to the region of Coimbra. Could also come from the other surname "Bragança".
Bragança Portuguese
From the city of Bragança in Portugal. It's also the name of the Royal House that ruled Portugal from 1640 to 1910.
Brizuela Spanish
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous neighborhood of the Castilian municipality of Merindad de Valdeporres.
Buendía Spanish
Probably a habitational name from Buendía in Cuenca province, Spain.
Bulgaria Italian, Spanish
Originally an ethnic name or regional name for someone from Bulgaria or a nickname for someone who had visited or traded with Bulgaria, which is named after the Turkic tribe of the Bulgars, itself possibly from a Turkic root meaning "mixed".
Burciaga Spanish
Hispanic (Mexico): Probably A Topographic Name Of Basque Origin But Unexplained Etymology.
Burruchaga Spanish, Basque (Hispanicized)
Altered form of Basque Burutxaga, a habitational name from a location in Navarre, Spain, possibly derived from buru "head; top, summit; leader, chief" or burutza "office of chief" combined with -aga "place of".
Caba Spanish, Catalan
Variant of Cava.
Cababa Spanish
Spanish (Cabaña) and Portuguese: habitational name from a place named with Spanish cabaña ‘hut’, ‘cabin’ (Late Latin capanna , a word of Celtic or Germanic origin).
Cabaña Spanish, Portuguese
Habitational name from a place named with Spanish cabaña ‘hut’, ‘cabin’ (Late Latin capanna, a word of Celtic or Germanic origin).
Cabeleira Portuguese
Likely originates from the Portuguese word "cabeleira," which means "head of hair" or "hairpiece." It might have been used as a nickname to describe someone with a notable or distinctive head of hair... [more]
Cabeza De Vaca Spanish
Literally translates to "cow's head" or "head of a cow". It is likely an occupational name for someone who was associated with cows or cattle, perhaps as a rancher or butcher. Alternatively, it could also have been used to describe someone with a thick-headed or stubborn personality.
Cadena Spanish
From Aguilar de Campoo, a district of Villalon in Valladolid.
Caixeta Portuguese (Brazilian)
Portuguese common name for Tabebuia cassinoides, a tree native to Central and South America.
Cajavilca Quechua
From kaja (cold) and vilca (supreme) meaning supreme cold. Possibly when the inhabitants of upper Chavín had to cross to the Callejón de Huaylas by the pass near Ulta they described this place as being too cold... [more]
Calabaza Spanish, Indigenous American
Nickname from ‘calabaza’ meaning pumpkin squash. This is commonly used by Pueblos (Native Americans) in New Mexico.
Caldeira Portuguese
Name given to a maker of kettles or other cooking vessels.
Caldeira Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Caldera.
Caldera Spanish
Derived from Spanish caldera meaning "basin, crater, hollow", ultimately from Latin caldarium or caldaria both meaning "hot bath, cooking pot". The word also denotes a depression in volcanoes, and it is commonly used as an element for surnames denoting streams or mountains.
California Spanish (Latin American)
It is thought that it might've been derived from Latin calida fornax meaning "hot furnace", or from Native American, kali forno meaning "high hill, native land". It is also thought to have derived from the given name Khalif or Khalifa.
Calzada Spanish (Latin American)
Means "road" in Spanish.
Calzadilla Spanish
habitational name from any of the places called (La) Calzadilla, named with a diminutive of calzada 'paved road'
Cámara Spanish
Occupational name for a courtier or servant who could access the private quarters of a king or noble, from Spanish cámara meaning "room, chamber".
Câmara Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Cámara.
Camarena Spanish
Topographic name for someone who lived by a granary.
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.
Cañada Spanish
Means "glen, ravine" in Spanish.
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).
Canela Spanish
Derived from the word 'canela' meaning cinnamon in Spanish. It Could also be a variant of the Catalan surname Candela.
Carreira Portuguese, Galician
Portuguese and Galician cognate 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]
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").
Casa Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
Means "house" in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.
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".
Casanova Catalan, Italian, Spanish, Galician, Portuguese
Means "new house" in various Romance languages, ultimately derived from Latin casa "house" and nova "new".
Cassatta Spanish (Latin American)
Spanish form of Cassata. Mostly used in Argentina.
Castaña Spanish (Philippines), Spanish (Latin American)
From Spanish meaning "chestnut". Could be a nickname for someone having chestnut hair.
Castanha Portuguese
From Portuguese meaning "chestnut". Could be a nickname for someone having chestnut hair.
Castanheira Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Castañeda meaning "chestnut grove".
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cervera Spanish
A name for someone coming from any one of many places called Cervera, coming from Late Latin cervaria, meaning "place of stags".
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".
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.
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.
Ciria Spanish
This indicates familial origin within the eponymous Castilian municipality.
Ciruela Filipino, Spanish (Rare)
From Spanish ciruela meaning "plum".
Coimbra Portuguese
Habitational name for someone from the city of Coimbra in Portugal.
Cópola South American
Possibly a Hispanicized form of Coppola.
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.
Cuaresma Spanish
It means "Lent".
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]
Cuenca Spanish
Cuenca is an ancient Spanish last name which originated from Cuenca, a city in the Kingdom of Castilla.... [more]
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 Rocha Portuguese, Galician
A common topographic name which means ‘from the rock' (rocha).
Da Rosa Portuguese
Literally means "of the rose" in Portuguese. It is generally a component of personal names; among women, it is a Marian name; among men, it is of uncertain application.
Da Vila Portuguese, Galician
A topographic name for someone from a village (vila).
Davila Spanish
Habitational name for someone from Ávila.
Daza Spanish
Derived from the Basque word "dazio", meaning "tax". It is a surname that is typically associated with the region of Navarre in Spain.
Dealava Spanish
Uruguay name
De Anda Spanish
Habitational name formed with the preposition de ‘from’ for someone from a town called Anda
De Costa Portuguese (Brazilian), Sinhalese
Variant of Da Costa used in Brazil and Sri Lanka.
De Cunha Portuguese (Brazilian), Sinhalese
Variant of Cunha used in Brazil and Sri Lanka.
De Labra Spanish (Rare)
Spanish Surname With Origins From Asturias.
De La Calzada Spanish (Rare)
Means "of the causeway" in Spanish. This surname was likely given in honor of Dominic de la Calzada, a saint from Burgos.
De La Hoya Spanish
Means "of the hole" in Spanish.
De La Iglesia Spanish
Means “of the church” in Spanish.
De La Isla Spanish
Means "of the island" in Spanish.
De La Luna Spanish, Filipino
Means "of the moon" in Spanish.
De La Mora Spanish
"De la," in several Romance languages (including Spanish and Romanian), means "from." "Mora," in Spanish, translates to "mulberry."... [more]
De La Parra Spanish
Means "of the vine" in Spanish.
De La Peña Spanish
Means "of the Rock" in Spanish.
De La Presa Spanish
Means "of the dam" in Spanish.
De La Reguera Spanish
Means "of the ditch" in Spanish, from Spanish reguera "ditch, irrigation ditch". Ana de la Reguera (1977-) is a Mexican actress known for her role as Sister Encarnación in the 2006 comedy film Nacho Libre.
De La Rosa Spanish (Latin American)
Means "of the Rose" in Spanish.
Delarosa Spanish
Means "of the rose" in Spanish.
De La Sierra Spanish
Means "of the mountain range" in Spanish.
De La Vega Spanish
Means "of the meadow" in Spanish.
De Lima Spanish
"de Lima" is the surname given to the people who lived near the Limia River (Lima in portuguese) on the Province of Ourense, an autonomous community of Galicia, located at the northwest of Spain. The root of the name is Don Juan Fernandez de Lima, maternal grandson to the King Alfonso VI de León (1040-1109).
Della Italian, Spanish
Likely derived from the Italian and Spanish word della, meaning "of the".
De Luna Spanish
Means "of the moon" in Spanish.
Dema Spanish
1 Spanish: unexplained; it is associated with Uesca province, in Aragon.... [more]
De Maria Portuguese (Brazilian), Italian
Means "of Mary" in Portuguese and Italian.
De Mesa Spanish
Variant of Mesa.
De Paula Spanish
a Metronymic from the female personal name Paula and from a shortened form of Francisco de Paula a personal name bestowed in honor of Saint Francis of Paola