Perhaps a visit to Cuba sparked your love of the country. Or maybe you have roots in the region. No matter what brought you here, you want to know more about Cuban surnames. If you’re expecting, you might even want to see if you can adapt one to your baby’s name. Cuban surnames can be a beautiful and vibrant way to pay homage to this special place known for its scenic beaches, colorful streets, rum, cigars, and deeply charming people.
From a modern American perspective, Cuba didn’t really register until the 1950s, when the Cuban Missile Crisis thrust Cuba and Cubans into the headlines. This perspective, however, could not be further from the truth. Cuba has been around, in one form or another, for as long as any other country on our planet. It was first inhabited by the Taíno, a group of people indigenous to the Caribbean islands who are believed to have been there since at least the 4th millennium BCE. Things changed, however, in the 15th century, when European countries began to explore the west and seek new lands to conquer. Spain claimed Cuba as its territory and began to colonize it. It lasted about three centuries until the Cubans rose up and fought for independence. In 1898, America entered the fight, starting the Spanish-American War and, once again, leaving the fate of Cuba in the hands of anyone but the Cubans. The United States’ interest in Cuba has lasted for a century and a half with intermittent attempts to integrate us into the Cuban government.
Why are we so interested in Cuba? Despite being a bit of a small island, Cuba is full of natural resources that everyone is dying to get their hands on. When you think of Cuba, you undoubtedly think of its more tropical contributions, such as sugar cane, tobacco and coffee. In 2013, however, Cuba also held around 7% of the world’s nickel reserves. This ore accounts for about a fifth of all Cuban exports. Who knew?!
Walter Bibikow/Getty Images
Walter Bibikow
We would be remiss not to mention how vital tourism is to the Cuban economy as well. In 2011, Cuba recorded over 2.6 million visitors to the country, making it the third most popular Caribbean country to visit. While you might think of Cuban tourism consisting mostly of beaches, sweaty night dances, and sporting events, Cuba actually has so much more to offer. Its diverse terrain outside of its cities lends itself to being one of the best places in the world for hiking and mountaineering. Another big part of Cuba’s appeal is medical tourism – many people travel to Cuba in search of less expensive medical treatments, ranging from dental services or fertility treatments to major surgery.
But how are the Cuban people? Like many countries in the Americas, Cuba is a real cultural melting pot. You’ll find elements of indigenous Taínos, as well as Spanish and African cultures, in nearly every aspect of Cuban life, from cuisine to music and even family dynamics. Famous Cubans include two of the most renowned Latin performers in music history: Celia Cruz and Gloria Estefan. We promise; you’ve heard them both. The danzón is Cuba’s “official” music and dance genre, but it is also popular in other parts of the Caribbean.
The list of the most popular Cuban surnames might help illustrate how diverse Cuban culture is these days. These are the most popular Cuban surnames, their meaning and origin.
Most Popular Cuban Surnames
1. Alonso
Meaning: variation of Alphonse
Origin: Germanic
2. Alvarez
Meaning: son of Álvaro; of Alvar
Origin: Germanic
3. Amaral
Meaning: vineyard
Origin: Portuguese
4. Arce
Meaning: stone
Origin: Spanish
5. Arenas
Meaning: sand
Origin: Spanish
6. Ayala
Meaning: a pasture along a hill
Origin: Basque
7. Batista
Meaning: Baptist
Origin: Spanish and Portuguese
8. Bazan
Meaning: brambles, a place of brambles
Origin: Basque
9. Bernal
Meaning: strong as a bear
Origin: Catalan and German
10. Beltran
Meaning: shining crow
Origin: German
11. Corzo
Meaning: deer
Origin: Spanish
12. Delfin
Meaning: dolphin
Origin: Italian
13. Diaz
Meaning: son of Diego
Origin: Spanish
14. Dominguez
Meaning: son of Domingo; from the Latin Dominicus or Dominus, meaning “master”
Origin: Spanish
15. Falcon
Meaning: falcon
Origin: French and English
16. Fernandez
Meaning: son of Fernando
Origin: Germanic
17. Garcia
Meaning: son of Gerald
Origin: pre-Roman, Basque
18. Gilles
Meaning: from the old form Egidio
Origin: Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, Dutch and German
19. Gomez
Meaning: son of Gomes, Gomo or Gomaro
Origin: Germanic
20. González
Meaning: son of Gonzalo
Origin: Germanic Vidal
21. Gutierrez
Meaning: son of Gutier, Gutierre or Gualtierre
Origin: Germanic
22. Hernandez
Meaning: son of Hernando, variation of Fernando
Origin: Spanish
23. Ibarra
Meaning: meadow or valley
Origin: Basque
24. Garden
Meaning: gardener or one who lives near a garden
Origin: Spanish and French
25. Jiménez
Meaning: son of Jimeno, Xemeno or Ximeno; original god
Origin: Spanish, Basque
26. Leon
Meaning: lion Origin: Spanish
27. Lopez
Meaning: son of Lope; Latin Lupus, meaning wolf
Origin: Spanish
28. Madeira
Meaning: wood or wood
Origin: Spanish
29. Sailor
Meaning: the one who lives by the sea
Origin: Spanish and Catalan
30. Marrero
Meaning: stonecutter or one who hammers stones
Origin: Spanish
31.Martin
Meaning: from Mars, warrior
Origin: Latin
32. Martinez
Meaning: son of Martín, son of Martino; Latin Martis, genitive form of Mars
Origin: Spanish
33. Mirabal
Meaning: the one who contemplates the valley
Origin: Spanish and Aragonese
34. Montalvan
Meaning: white mountains
Origin: Spanish
35. Mora
Meaning: mulberry or mulberry tree
Origin: Catalan, Portuguese and Spanish
36. Moreno
Meaning: brunette, brunette; bronze
Origin: Spanish, Portuguese and Jewish
37. Munoz
Meaning: son of Munio
Origin: pre-Roman
38. Navarre
Meaning: Navarrese, “from Navarre”
Origin: Basque
39. Ojeda
Meaning: foliage or mass of leaves
Origin: Spanish
40. Ortega
Meaning: grouse or quail
Origin: Spanish
41. Perez
Meaning: son of Pedro; Latin Petrus
Origin: Spanish, Hebrew
42. Rivas
Meaning: shore or bank
Origin: Catalan
43. Rodriguez
Meaning: son of Rodrigo, Roderic
Origin: Germanic
44. Romero
Meaning: pilgrim
Origin: possibly Italian
45. Castling
Meaning: rock
Origin: Spanish and Catalan
46. Ruiz
Meaning: son of Rui; variation or short for Rodrigo
Origin: Spanish and Germanic
47. Sanchez
Meaning: son of Sancho; Latin Sanctius
Origin: Spanish
48. Torres
Meaning: turn
Origin: Latin
49. Vazquez
Meaning: son of Vasco or Velasco
Origin: Basque
50. Zayas
Meaning: guardian or watchman
Origin: Basque