Mexican-American Surnames

Main contributor: Daniel Maurice

Mexican-American surnames reflect the complex history of Mexicans in the United States. Over several centuries a series of major developments influenced their experience and the role Mexican-Americans came to play in the USA's` political, social, economic and cultural life. These events have also shaped the evolution of Mexican-American surnames.

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A brief history of Mexicans in America

Before Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, many areas that are now part of America’s Southwest were inhabited by a mix of Spanish settlers and indigenous peoples. This established its cultural and demographic makeup^[1].

After Mexico's independence present-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, parts of Colorado and Texas all formed part of the country. But these territories also developed strong economic ties with the United States as its settlers steadily expanded westward across the continent.

The U.S.-Mexico War (1846-1848) forced Mexico to give up a vast amount of its northern lands to the United States. It also resulted in tens of thousands of Mexicans in these territories becoming U.S. citizens. While some Mexicans resisted this takeover, many others accepted their fate and integrated into American society^[2].

During the violent Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) a wave of Mexican refugees fled to the USA. This resulted in a significant increase in the Mexican-American population, particularly in California and Texas. This cohort was especially important in meeting the labour needs of growing industries such as agriculture, railroads and manufacturing in these states^[3].

Frequently facing discrimination and exclusion from the levers of power Mexican Americans became increasingly involved in civil rights movements of the mid-20^th century. They formed part of a wider movement advocating for voting rights, better education opportunities and employment equity. But the persistent difficulties they faced also encouraged Mexican-Americans to maintain strong ties to their Mexican cultural and social heritage.

How Mexican-American Surnames differ from Mexican Surnames

Americans with Mexican Ancestry by state as of the 2010 U.S. Census

A separate Wiki article on Mexican Surnames provides an overview of how Mexico’s history, especially its Spanish colonisation, has impacted the evolution of Mexican surnames. This article also describes key Mexican surname conventions built around four core groupings:

Patronymic (paternal descent)
Occupational (ancestor’s work, trade, profession or vocation)
Toponymic/Geographical (location-driven)
Descriptor (ancestor’s personal characteristics)

Mexican-Americans maintain these traditional Mexican naming customs but have also adapted them to reflect their unique cultural context. This means balancing tradition with practical adjustments to better fit into American society:

While Mexican-Americans may often retain the Mexican tradition of using two surnames -- the father's paternal surname followed by the mother's paternal surname -- it is common among this cohort to use only the paternal surname in official documents or daily life to align with common American practice. Thus, a Mexican-American individual formally named Hector Gonzalez Lopez might normally just go by the name Hector Gonzelez^[4].
Some Mexican-Americans may go a step further, abandon the Hispanic tradition of dual surnames and simply register their children with a single (usually paternal) surname^[5].
To minimise confusion while preserve both family surnames and avoid confusion, some Mexican-Americans hyphenate their surnames especially in legal or formal settings. In our example above Hector might instead use the surname Gonzalez-Lopez.
Mexican-American women may adopt American custom by taking their husband's surname after marriage, replacing their maternal surname.
Traditional Mexican surnames sometimes include prepositions like de, del, or de la may be omitted in American records or contexts for simplicity. So, Maria del Bosque simply becomes Maria Bosque^[6].

Recent trends in Mexican-American surnames

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness and appreciation of cultural heritage, leading to some reversal of previous accommodations in Mexican-American surnames. In particular there is an increasing effort within the Mexican-American community to encourage recognition of Mexican and broader Hispanic naming conventions as a practical step towards preserving language and culture in the face of assimilation pressures. For example some later-generation Mexican-Americans are choosing to reclaim their dual surnames as a way of reconnecting with their cultural roots^[7].

Since 1999, Spanish law has allowed parents to choose which surname will be used first, giving more flexibility in naming practices^[8]. This development will likely increasingly filter through to Mexican-American naming customs over time.

Significant Mexican-American Surnames and their meaning

Among the most common Mexican-American surnames in the USA are^[9]^[10]:

Garcia: Derived from the Basque word gaztea, meaning "young". By some accounts it is the most prevalent Hispanic surname in America, with over one million people bearing this name.
Rodriguez: Meaning "son of Rodrigo," where Rodrigo is associated with "glorious" or "power".
Martinez: From the name Martín, meaning "warrior" or "warlike".
Hernandez: Derived from the name Hernán, signifying "journey" or "adventure".
Lopez: Possibly meaning "son of wolves" or "governor," depending on the interpretation.
Gonzalez: Originating from the name Gonzalo, meaning "battle" or "war".
Perez: Meaning "son of Peter," with Peter translating to "stone" or "rock"
Sanchez: Among the top Hispanic surnames in the USA although its origin and meaning is uncertain.
Ramirez: Derived from the name Ramiro, meaning "famous counsel" or "wise protector".
Torres: Associated with the Spanish word "torre," meaning "tower"

Some less common, but culturally significant Mexican-American surnames are^[11]:

Aguayo: Derived from the name of a region in Spain.
Barragán: Basque origin, often linked to nobility.
Escárcega: Altered form of Escárzaga itself a Castilianized form of the Basque surname Eskartzaga.
Ybarra: Basque origins, meaning "valley."
Zamarripa: Likely originates from the combination of the Spanish words zamarra, meaning a sheepskin coat or jacket, and ripa, which refers to a riverbank. It might have been used to describe someone living near a riverbank or associated with this particular type of outerwear.

Famous Mexican-Americans

Here is a list of some famous people with Mexican-American surnames:^[12]^[13]

Lupe Vélez: Early successful actresses, beginning her career in the era of silent films.
María Joaquina de la Portilla Torres, known as María Grever: Composer.
Robert Anthony Avila, better known by his stage name Tony Bellamy: Mexican/Yaqui musician, vocalist of the Native American rock band Redbone.
Sylvia Acevedo: Engineer, rocket scientist, businesswoman.
Cesar Chavez: Influential labour leader and civil rights activist.
Ellen Ochoa: Astronaut, former director of the Johnson Space Center.
Dolores Huerta: Labour leader, civil rights activist.
Jovita Idár: Journalist, political activist, civil rights worker.

Guy Gabaldon: US marine credited with capturing over 1,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians during the Battle of Saipan in World War II.
Salma Hayek Jiménez, known as Salma Hayek: Actress, producer.
Vanessa Marcil: Actress.

Explore More about Mexican-American Surnames

The MyHeritage Mexico family history research page lists a range of MyHeritage data collections relevant to Mexico. This is a great page to start your research into Mexican-American surnames.

Here are some additional online resources that will assist you with your surname research:

Researching Your Mexican Roots For Beginners

Mexican American Genealogy Research

References

[1] Wikimedia Foundation. (2025, March 19). Mexican Americans. Wikipedia.

[2] Texas State Historical Association. (n.d.). Mexican Americans.

[3] Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). Mexican americans | history detectives. PBS.

[4] Pier. (n.d.). Mexican - naming. Cultural Atlas.

[5] Pérez-Quiñones, M. A. (n.d.). Hispanic Last Names: Why Two of Them?

[6] Sally Odekirk, S., Hansen, A., Tennant, A., Anderson, S., & Trotter, R. J. (2023, July 22). Mexican last names: Frequently asked questions • familysearch. Mexican Last Names: Frequently Asked Questions.

[7] Sylmarie Davila-Montero, (2020, December 7). I have two last names – here is why they both matter. Diverse.

[8] Wikimedia Foundation. (2025a, March 14). Spanish naming customs. Wikipedia.

[9] Nicole CanúnFreelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish AcademyBlogger. (2023, December 28). The 10 most common Spanish surnames in the U.S. Homeschool Spanish Academy.

[10] Most common Hispanic last names in the United States. Printable Name Meaning Art. (n.d.).

[11] Mexican last names and meanings. FamilyEducation. (2022, April 26).

[12] 10 famous Mexican Americans everyone should know about. Discover Walks Blog. (2023, March 28).

[13] Lists, C. (2024, May 1). Famous people of Mexican descent. Ranker.

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