Both Mexican names and last names represent the rich cultural heritage and history of Mexico. With a large number of the population speaking Spanish in Mexico, their surnames are generally tracked back to Spain.

Mexican family names follow a unique tradition where the first name is derived from the father's last name and the surname from the mother's last name. Moreover, the surname also comes from a place, profession, or family generation. In this article, we present a list of the Mexican last names accompanied with their meanings and origins.

1. Arellano

Arellano is the surname that comes from the Latin name Aurelianus meaning "farm or the estate of Aurelius".

2. Aguilar

This surname was first found in Castile, an important Christian kingdom of medieval Spain. It refers to the person who lived in a region called Aguilar. The name comes from the Latin word Aquilare meaning "eagles’ lair".

3. Bernal

The Mexican surname Bernal is the Spanish variant of the name Baruch, which means "blessed" in Hebrew.

4. Cardenas

The Mexican surname Cardenas originates from Spain. It is believed to come from the word cardeno, which means "blue" or "bluish purple". It may also be associated with the Cardenas town in the province of Burgos.

5. Dominguez

The meaning of Dominguez is "son of Domingo". The surname is usually written without the accent in the Philippines and the United States.

6. Espinoza

Espinoza originated from the word Espino which means "hawthorn". This is a habitational name for many places named Espinosa in the Galicia and Vascongadas regions of Spain.

7. Franco

The meaning of the surname Franco is "freedom" and it is derived from the ethnic name for Frank.

8. Figueroa

Mexican surname Figueroa means "fig tree". It is also the habitational name of any one of several small towns in Galicia.

9. Gallardo

Gallardo is the surname that is made up of the merge of the two words where Gail means "joyous" or "cheerful" and hard means "strong" or "brave".

10. Herrera

Herrera is an occupational last name in Mexico that has the meaning "blacksmith" or "someone who works with iron". 

11. Leon

The surname Leon means "lion". It is a surname that can have connotations of bravery, strength, and leadership.

12. Lopez

One of the popular names Lopez was originally a patronymic, meaning "son of Lope". 

13. Ibarra

This is a Basque habitational name for someone who "resided in a valley" or "plain near a river".

14. Macias

It is derived from the name Matthew which comes from the Hebrew name Mattityahu meaning "gift of god".

15. Luna

Luna is the surname that has the meaning "moon". Additionally, it is also derived from the city of Lugo in the Galicia province of Spain.

16. Marin

It is a derivative of the Latin name Marinus meaning "of the sea". The name has been an occupational name for someone who worked as a sailor or a mariner.

Unique Mexican Last Names

17. Reyes

The meaning of a Mexican last name Reyes is "kings", but it could also be translated as "royals" or "royalty".

18. Feo

A short form of Maffeo, the word Feo translates to "ugly". 

19. Padilla

The Mexican surname Padilla originates from Spain and is believed to come from the term Padilla, which means "small frying pan". However, the surname can also be associated with the place called Padilla de Abajo in the province of Burgos.

20. Cisneros

Cisneros is the surnmae which is the variation of the name Cisne. The meaning of this is "swan".

21. Jaramillo

The surname Jaramillo is primarily of Spanish origin which means "The Jaramago Tree". This is the name of someone from the south of Castilla, Spain, and Mexico.

22. Escobedo

Escobedo is a topographic name from a collective form of escoba "broom". Moreover, it is a habitational name from either of two minor places in Cantabria called Escobedo.

23. Hinojosa

The Mexican surname Hinojosa originates from Spain and is believed to come from the name of a place called Hinojosa, which means "place where junipers grow".

24. Pacheco

Pacheco is the name that is derived from the Latin Franciscus which refers to "a freeman".

25. Felan

The surname Felan refers to the meaning "wolf ".

26. Rivera

A beautiful water name, Rivera was originally a surname of Spanish and Italian origin, meaning "riverbank".

27. Salazar

The surname Salazar is derived from the Basque word zahar, which means "old," and the word sala, which means "hall". Together, it can be interpreted as an "old hall" or "ancient palace".

28. Solis

Solis is the name which is derived from the Latin Sol, meaning "sun".

29. Tapia

The name Tapia is a name of Spanish origin that means "Mud Wall". This surname is given to someone who lived in or behind a mud wall.

30. Valle

The meaning of the surname Valle is "valley". It is commonly found in Italy, Spain, and countries with Italian or Spanish communities, including Mexico.

31. Zuniga

It is derived from the name of a place in the Navarre province of Spain. The name is derived from the Basque word estugune meaning a "channel" or "strait".

32. Vargas

Vargas is generated from the term Varga, which describes "steep slopes" or "waterlogged pastureland". It symbolizes a resilient and adaptable history, thriving in challenging environments.

Common Mexican Last Names

33. Perez

The surname Perez is of Spanish origins, written in Spanish orthography as Perez, is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Pero or Pedro (Peter)".

34. Abad

Abad is an occupational surname for a person who was employed as an Abbot. Abad comes from the Latin abbas and this is from the Syrian "abba" meaning "padre" or father. 

35. Ayala

Ayala is a common surname that may be found in many Hispanic countries including Mexico. It is a toponymic surname and has the meaning "slope", "hillside" and "pasture".

36. Beltran

Beltran is a surname that is derived from the Germanic words berht meaning "bright" and hramn meaning "raven".

37. Chaves

The Mexican surname Chaves means "keys". This is an occupational surname that was given to someone who made keys for a living.

38. Bustos

The meaning of the surname Bustos is "meadow", or "willow".

39. Diaz

The surname Diaz comes from the Latin dies which means "days." Although it is a common Hispanic surname, Diaz is believed to have Jewish origins, predating the Hispanic world.

40. Vera

Vera is described as a "river bank", also "area of fertile land between a river and an upland", or a habitational name from any of various places called (La) Vera.

41. Vargas

The meaning of the name Vargas is "hut, steep slope" or "fenced pastureland which becomes waterlogged in winter". As of 2014, 22.2% of all known bearers of the surname Vargas were residents of Mexico. 

42. Torres

Torres is a surname often given to a person who lived in or near a tower, from the Latin turris, meaning "tower." 

43. Soto

The meaning of the surname Soto is "grove" or "small wood". It is the 34th most common Hispanic surname.

44. Ortiz

Ortiz is the surname that refers to "brave" or "strong". In terms of its historical significance, the name Ortiz has roots in medieval Spain.

45. Salinas

The Mexican surname Salinas has a Spanish origin which meaning is related to the word salina, which is "a place where salt is extracted". Therefore, it indicates the ancestors of someone with this surname were involved in salt production or trade.

46. Parra

Parra is a Spanish, Portuguese, and also Jewish surname that has the meaning "grapevine" or "trellis". 

47. Rios

The last name was derived from the Spanish word "Rio," which means "river".

48. Morales

The surname Morales is a topographical surname given to someone who lived near a mulberry or blackberry bush. It means "son of Moral," indicating that their ancestor lived near a mulberry or blackberry tree.

Rare Mexican Last Names

The rare last Mexican names are:

49. Kuri

The Mexican surname Kuri is derived from the two words ku, meaning "place," and ri, meaning "weasel." So when combined, Kuri refers to the "place of the weasel".

50. Luevano

From the merge of two words lue and vano the surname Luevano originated. Here, lue has the meaning "place," and vano, which relates to "wolf." Therefore, Luevano can be interpreted as the "place of the wolf".

51. Montes de Oca

The meaning of the surname Montes de Oca is "mountains of the goose".

52. Nava

Nava is a beautiful and descriptive surname meaning "plain" or "field".

53. Palafox

The surname Palafox is derived from Spanish where Pala means "shovel" and fox means "zorro". Together, Palafox can be defined as a clever fox.

54. Tovar

The surname Tovar has Spanish origins where it can be described as "doorkeeper" or "porter." It refers to someone who is responsible for guarding or managing the entrance to a place.

55. Quiroz

Quiroz has Spanish origins and it can be represented as "place of the oak tree". It refers to a location where oak trees are present.

56. Sandoval

The last name Mexico, Sandoval means "sandy valley" which signifies a valley covered in sand.

57. Rangel

Rangel is a toponymic surname meaning "a mighty ruler". 

58. Jalisco

The surname Jalisco has the meaning "over a sandy surface". Until about 1836, the name was spelled Xalisco.

59. Puebla

The meaning of the surname Puebla is "settlement". 

60. Garza

This is a Basque and Galician habitational surname that means "dweller at the sign of the heron".

61. Delgado

This Spanish and Portuguese last name is derived from a nickname for a "thin or slender person".

62. Cruz

This is derived from the personal name that means "cross" or "dweller by a cross".

63. Uriarte

This surname is generated due to the combination of two words where Uri means "hamlet village settlement" and Arte means "between in the midst of".

64. Esquibel

Esquibel is a surname of Basque origin as well as a place name. The meaning of this is "behind the lime trees".

Cool Mexican Last Names

65. Estrada

The surname Estrada has Spanish origins and is also common in Mexico. It translates to "road" or "street".

66. Medina

The surname Medina has multiple meanings as it can refer to "someone who lived near or at a market", or "someone who had returned from the market". 

67. Garcia

The most common meaning of the Garcia surname is the patronymic "descendant or son of Garcia". It is the Spanish form of Gerald.

68. Fuentes

The meaning of Fuentes is "fountains". It is derived from the Latin word fons which refers to a spring.

69. Flores

Flores is the surname which is originated from the given name Floro, meaning "flower". It is the 15th most common Hispanic surname.

70. Iglesias

Iglesias is a Spanish surname that refers to "churches". This is the habitational name of a place called Iglesias.

71. Cabrera

Cabrera is derived from the Spanish word Cabra, meaning goat. It symbolizes a bond with the natural world, making it one of the best Mexican surnames for those who cherish animals and nature.

72. Chavez

Chavez is the perfect option for Mexican last names, which have the meaning "Golden, yellow-haired".

73. Cuevas

Cuevas can be a name that refers to the geographical features of "caves", or it can be a name associated with places called Cuevas.

74. Rubio

The Mexican surname Rubio means "blond" or "fair-haired". It refers to someone with light-colored hair.

75. Avila

Avila is a surname that is predominantly found in Hispanic and Latino families. It is a cool family name which gives the meaning "from a town or village".

76. Corona

Corona is an Italian surname that is derived from the word corona, meaning "crown". 

77. Mesa

Mesa is the habitational name from any of various places mainly in southern Spain named La Mesa from Latin mensa "table" concerning a topographic feature.

78. Ochoa

The surname Ochoa is of Basque origin and is believed to have multiple possible meanings. One of them is the "place of willows". However, it is also related to the Basque term otsoa, which means "wolf."

79. Blanco

The meaning of the surname Blanco is "bright", "to shine". and "bright white".

80. Molina

Molina is Latin for "mill" and is derived from another Latin word, mola meaning "millstone". It originated from the early Middle Ages, referring to a person who operates a mill or a millstone.

Old Mexican Last Names

81. Ayla

Ayla means "moonlight" which holds a beautiful and poetic meaning.

82. Becerra

This refers to a high-spirited person and is derived from the Spanish word becerra meaning a "young cow".

83. de Leon

It denotes someone from the city of Leon in Spain. The name, Leon is the Spanish word for "Lion".

84. Cuatli

This surname is most numerous in Mexico, where it is borne by 837 people. The meaning of this surname is "Eagle".

85. Garcia

The most common meaning of the Garcia surname is the patronymic "descendant or son of Garcia". 

86. Carrillo

The meaning of the Carrillo is "cheek". It is believed that this surname was given to those people who had unique cheeks.

87. Esquivel

Esquivel is a Basque surname meaning "behind the lime trees". 

88. Rosas

This surname is derived from the Latin word rosa which means "rose". So, it may have a connection to roses or the symbolism associated with them.

89. Jimenez

In Mexico, numerous families proudly bear the surname Jimenez as a cherished part of their heritage. Jimenez was originally a patronymic surname, signifying a "son of Jimeno" or "son of Ximeno".

90. Silva

It is a variation of the Spanish word selva meaning "forest". It is also a toponymic name for someone who originally lived beside a forest.

91. Mata

The meaning of the surname Mata is "bush" or "shrubs". It is likely a toponymic name for someone who lived near bushes or shrubs.

92. Marquez

Marquez has the meaning "son of Marcos". Similarly, Marcos is derived from the Latin name Marcus which refers to the God of Mars.

93. Olivares

The surname Olivares is generated from the Spanish word oliva which means "olive grove". 

94. Pacheco

Pacheco is acquired from the word pequeno which means "short", "small", and "little". 

95. Ramos

The surname Ramos has its origin from Spain and Portugal where it refers to "bouquets" or "branches".

96. Rios

This surname has been obtained from the word Rio meaning "river".

Long Mexican Last Names

97. Hernandez

Hernandez is a patronymic surname that became common around the 15th century. It means "sin of Hernan, Hernando, or Fernando".

98. Martinez

Martinez is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Martin." Martin comes from the Latin Martinus, a derivative of Mars, the Roman god of fertility and war.

99. Gonzalez

Gonzalez is a surname which is originated from the medieval name Gundisakvus. The meaning of this is "son of Gonzalo".

100. Rodriguez

Rodriguez surname is also patronymic and translates as "son of Rodrigo". The ez and es in the name added to the root signify "descendant of".

101. Belmonte

Belmonte is a surname that originated from the two words Bello meaning beautiful and Monte meaning mountain. Together, it translates as "beautiful mountain".

102. Campana

This is an occupational name that has its origin in the Latin word Campana meaning "bell". 

103. Cervantes

The Cervantes surname in Mexico has its roots as far back as the early 16th Century. Cervantes translates as "the servant of the lord".

104. De La Fuente

The surname De La Fuente means "of the fountain," "of the spring," or "of the source." It also symbolizes the idea of being a source of life or knowledge.

105. Dominguez

Dominguez is a name of Spanish origin that means "son of Domingo". It is the patronymic from the personal name Domingo.

106. Del Bosque

The Mexican surname Del Bosque means "of/from the forest" in Spanish. This surname may have originated from an ancestral connection to a wooded area or refer to an ancestor who lived near a forest.

107. Escamilla

The Mexican surname Escamilla has Spanish origins, which is related to the term escama, meaning "scale".

108. Escareno

The Mexican surname Escareno has a Spanish origin and is related to the term escara, meaning "a scab" or "scar". It is also related to the term escarcha, which means "frosty" or "covered in frost".

109. Trujillo

Trujillo is a habitational name from the city so named in Caceres province, called in Latin Turgalium. The meaning of the surname is "a place with rocky terrain" or "a fortress" or "castle".

110. Quinteiro

Quintero is a Spanish surname originating in the Spanish region of Galicia. The name comes from quinto or quinta which means "fifth".