Paraguayan Surnames

Main contributor: Gisela Cuenca

Paraguayan surnames are those carried by people from the South American country of Paraguay, as well as the Paraguayan diaspora in Argentina, Brazil, Spain, the United States and Canada. The distinctive Spanish-Guaraní multilingual culture, robust indigenous heritage, and intricate colonial past of Paraguay are all reflected in the country's surnames.

History of Paraguayan surnamesHistory of Paraguayan surnames

The use of two surnames, inherited from both parents, with the paternal surname coming first, is a long-standing custom in Paraguay rather than a historical "surname law" in the sense of a legal act defining surnames. The 1992 Constitution explicitly recognized the use of both surnames for children in official and legal documents,^[1] codifying this habit that originated from Spanish colonial practices and was influenced by the merging of Spanish and Guaraní cultures. Also and during colonization, indigenous Guarani names were frequently substituted with Spanish-assigned names, which were then blended into a mestizo system. Other immigrant groups, notably those of Lebanese heritage, have also added distinctive surnames, like Aboud and Dibb, to Paraguay's varied naming customs.

Paraguayan surnames naming conventionsParaguayan surnames naming conventions

One interesting aspect of Paraguayan surnames is the influence of Guaraní language, which is spoken with different levels of fluency by around 77% of the population; as a consequence of this, a Spanish surname may have a Guaraní pronunciation or meaning due to Paraguay's distinct mestizo culture and bilingualism. Similarly and in keeping with Guaraní usage, certain surnames function as both given names and family names.

Types of Paraguayan surnamesTypes of Paraguayan surnames

Paraguayan surnames of patronymic originParaguayan surnames of patronymic origin

These Paraguayan surnames are derived from common first names, especially from Spain:

González – son of Gonzalo
Ramírez – son of Ramiro
Martínez – from Martín
Fernández – from Fernando
Rodríguez – from Rodrigo
Benítez – son of Benito, a shortened form of Benjamín
Riquelme – medieval Spanish surname with noble roots
Ávalos – noble lineage surname found throughout Paraguay and Argentina

Paraguayan surnames of toponymic surnamesParaguayan surnames of toponymic surnames

Many surnames refer to locations in Spain, but some are now tied to Paraguayan towns or Guaraní places:

Del Puerto – “of the port”
Villalba – “white village”
Del Valle – “of the valley”
Florentín – may reference a place or given name
Cabañas – originally “cabins,” now also a Paraguayan town
Encina / Enciso – from Spanish place names or natural features
Zárate – Basque toponymic name, fairly common

Paraguayan surnames of occupational originParaguayan surnames of occupational origin

Less frequent in Paraguay, but still found due to Spanish influence:

Herrera – “blacksmith”
Molina – “miller”
Pastor – “shepherd”
Sosa – possibly from soltero (free man), but often categorized with trade or status-based surnames
Vera – possibly from “faithful” or linked to truth, but can be descriptive too
Escobar – originally “place with broom plants,” associated with agriculture or land

Paraguayan surnames of descriptive originParaguayan surnames of descriptive origin

''La Tribuna'' newspaper front cover from December 21, 1925.

These may refer to traits, characteristics, or status:

Blanco – “white” or “fair”
Moreno – “brown” or “dark-skinned”
Torres – “towers,” possibly used as a status name
Caballero – “knight,” used both as a title and surname
Fleitas – likely a derivative of flaco (thin) or flecha (arrow)
Barrios – “neighborhoods,” possibly from a descriptive or urban context

Paraguayan surnames of Guaraní originParaguayan surnames of Guaraní origin

Many Paraguayan surnames of Guaraní and indigenous-origin are present throughout all the society, particularly as given names used as surnames, but Spanish surnames predominate. Many Guaraní surnames have been acquired and relocalized throughout centuries of bilingual interaction, but they are not native in spelling.

Ayala – extremely common; believed to be Spanish in form but adopted and widespread in Guaraní-speaking areas
Florentín, Aquino, and Bogado – often found in areas with strong Guaraní heritage
Gamarra – possibly Guaraní-influenced in usage and distribution
Rivarola – unique to Paraguay, possibly linked to early colonial settlers adopting local naming customs
Otazú – local place-based surname with Guaraní phonetics
Ojeda, Cáceres, Ovelar – frequent in both Spanish and Guaraní areas

Paraguayan surnames of aristocratic originParaguayan surnames of aristocratic origin

Though Paraguay did not develop a strong native aristocracy unlike other Hispanic countries like Perú and México, a few surnames trace to noble families or historical figures:

Yegros – from independence leader Pedro Juan Caballero’s ally
Caballero – tied to nobility and military status
de la Mora, de Jesús – sometimes preserved with prepositions indicating religious or noble origin
Acevedo, Ávalos, Resquín – names with landowning or military roots during colonial times

Paraguayan surnames of foreign originParaguayan surnames of foreign origin

German: These are common in Mennonite communities and among more recent German immigrants:
- Friesen
- Neufeld
- Wall
- Klassen
- Epp – especially common in the Chaco region
- Schmidt
- Baumgartner – more widespread

Slavic (Ukrainian, Polish, Russian)
- Kowalski
Basque:
- Zelaya
French:
- Dubois – small presence in urban areas
Italian: most Paraguayan surnames of Italian origin were introduced through immigration from Argentina or directly during the early 20th century:
- Di Fiori
- Sabatini
- Moretti
- Conti

Most common Paraguayan surnamesMost common Paraguayan surnames

Celebrities with Paraguayan surnamesCelebrities with Paraguayan surnames

Julieta Granada - Paraguayan professional golfer on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour.
Charles Daniel Hockin Brusquetti - Paraguayan-Spanish swimmer competing for Paraguay, winner of bronze and silver medals at the South American Championships, Bolivarian and South American Games
Nadia Tamara Ferreira Muñiz - Paraguayan fashion model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Paraguay 2021 and first runner-up at Miss Universe 2021
José Luis Félix Chilavert González - Paraguayan former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Sportivo Luqueño, Guaraní, San Lorenzo de Almagro, Real Zaragoza, Vélez Sarsfield, RC Strasbourg, Peñarol and the Paraguay national team.
Larissa Mabel Riquelme Frutos - Paraguayan model and actress who rose to international prominence during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Andrés Pacuá Zaracho, better known as Arnaldo André - Paraguayan actor for soap-operas. He spent most of his career in Argentina, where he has been active since 1964
Roque Luis Santa Cruz Cantero - Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Paraguayan Primera División club Libertad. He is the record goal scorer and has earned over 100 caps for the Paraguay national team, thus he is regarded as one of the best players in the nation's history. Santa Cruz has scored goals at a professional level in each of the last four decades.

Explore more about Paraguayan surnamesExplore more about Paraguayan surnames

Discover the origin of your last name at MyHeritage
Paraguay - Collection Catalog at MyHeritage

References

↑ LEY Nº 1/92 DE LA REFORMA PARCIAL DEL CÓDIGO CIVIL. CORTE SUPREMA DE JUSTICIA DE PARAGUAY

[1] LEY Nº 1/92 DE LA REFORMA PARCIAL DEL CÓDIGO CIVIL. CORTE SUPREMA DE JUSTICIA DE PARAGUAY

[1]