100 Popular Cuban Last Names

The surnames in Cuba carry with them an intricate layering of history, culture, and heritage.

Despite a complex intermixture of Spanish, African, and indigenous influences, the majority of these surnames recount the migratory path, the wave of social standing, and the deeply-rooted family orientation that all characterize Cuban identity through centuries.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the meaning behind some of the most common Cuban last names, peeling back the layers of history contained in each one.

History and Carmen of Traces of the Past: An Insight into Cuban Culture. Providing the perfect insight into the culture of the island.

Cuban last names

Álvarez – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Álvaro,” derived from the Old Spanish name Álvaro, meaning “guard” or “watchman.”

González – A patronymic surname from the given name Gonzalo, meaning “son of Gonzalo,” which comes from the Old Spanish term for “battle” or “war.”

Rodríguez – Derived from the name Rodrigo, meaning “son of Rodrigo,” with “Roderic” meaning “famous power.”

Hernández – From the given name Hernando, meaning “son of Hernando,” derived from the Germanic name “Herman,” meaning “army man.”

Pérez – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Pedro,” from the given name Pedro, which means “rock” or “stone” in Spanish.

López – Derived from the given name Lope, meaning “son of Lope,” from the Latin “lupus,” meaning “wolf.”

Martínez – A patronymic surname from the name Martín, meaning “son of Martín,” with roots in the Roman name Martinus, meaning “of Mars,” the god of war.

Díaz – A patronymic surname derived from the name Diego, meaning “son of Diego” or “son of the one who teaches.”

Jiménez – Derived from the name Jimeno, meaning “son of Jimeno,” with origins in the Old Spanish word for “son of.”

Méndez – Derived from the name Mendo, meaning “son of Mendo,” originating from the Old Spanish word for “gifted.”

Suárez – Derived from the name Suero, meaning “son of Suero,” with Old Spanish roots meaning “sweat” or “warrior.”

García – One of the most common Spanish surnames, it likely originated from the Basque country and may mean “bear” or “young.”

Vázquez – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Vasco,” which means “Basque” in reference to the people of the Basque region.

Sánchez – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Sancho,” meaning “holy” or “saint.”

Ramírez – From the name Ramiro, meaning “son of Ramiro,” derived from the Germanic words for “wise” or “famous.”

Álvarez – Derived from the name Álvaro, meaning “son of Álvaro,” which means “guard” or “watchman.”

Castro – Refers to a “fortified village” or “castle,” of Old Spanish origin.

Ruiz – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Ruy,” derived from the medieval name “Rodrigo,” meaning “famous power.”

Torres – Derived from “tower” or “fortress,” it is of Spanish origin, referring to a family living near a tower or fort.

Gutiérrez – Derived from the name Gutierre, meaning “son of Gutierre,” from the Old Spanish word for “ruler.”

Morales – A surname that refers to “mulberry trees” in Spanish, indicating a family associated with mulberry groves.

Flores – Meaning “flowers” in Spanish, it likely referred to a family living near a meadow or garden.

Vega – Refers to a fertile plain or meadow, originating from Old Spanish.

Fuentes – Means “fountains” in Spanish, likely denoting a family living near a source of water.

Reyes – Meaning “kings” in Spanish, this surname is likely symbolic or derived from a royal lineage.

Cruz – Means “cross” in Spanish, often associated with religious or symbolic meaning.

Rojas – Meaning “red” in Spanish, it could be used to describe someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.

Cardenas – Derived from a place name meaning “thistle” or “a place full of thistles” in Spanish.

Rivera – Refers to a “riverbank” or “shore,” indicating a family that lived near a river or stream.

Luna – Means “moon” in Spanish, likely symbolizing the family’s connection to the moon or a place with moonlit scenery.

Serrano – Derived from the word “sierra,” meaning “mountain range” or “highland,” referring to someone who lived in or near the mountains.

Martín – Meaning “of Mars” or “warrior,” derived from the Roman god of war.

Cordero – Means “lamb” in Spanish, symbolizing innocence or purity.

Aguirre – Derived from the Basque region, it could refer to a location name or a strong, distinguished family.

Montero – Refers to a “hunter” in Spanish, from the word “monte” (mountain).

Cordero – Means “lamb” in Spanish, symbolizing innocence or purity.

Torriente – Derived from “torrent,” meaning a strong stream or rushing water.

Bermúdez – Of Spanish origin, derived from the name Bermudo, possibly referring to a strong and noble warrior.

Calixto – Derived from the Greek name “Kallistos,” meaning “most beautiful,” signifying someone with a handsome appearance.

Vázquez – A Basque surname meaning “son of Vasco,” which refers to the Basque people.

Delgado – Means “slender” or “thin” in Spanish, possibly a nickname for someone with a slim physique.

Espinoza – Derived from “espino,” meaning “thorn” or “hawthorn,” referring to a thorny or resilient family.

Salazar – A surname of Basque origin, meaning “old hall” or “place of the noble.”

Acevedo – Refers to an “ash tree,” a symbol of endurance and strength.

Ramos – Means “branches” in Spanish, possibly indicating a family that lived near trees or a wooded area.

Paredes – Means “walls” in Spanish, referring to someone living near the walls of a town or fortress.

Lobato – Derived from the word “lobo,” meaning “wolf” in Spanish, likely referring to a family with a wolf-like trait or as hunters.

Serrano – Derived from “sierra,” meaning “mountain range” or “highland.”

Marín – Derived from the Latin word “marinus,” meaning “of the sea,” possibly indicating a family that lived near the coast.

Vidal – From the Latin “vitalis,” meaning “life,” this surname can symbolize vitality or life-giving.

Zapata – Refers to “shoe” or “boot” in Spanish, possibly originating from a shoemaker or a family associated with footwear.

Mora – Means “blackberry” in Spanish, possibly indicating a family associated with blackberry cultivation.

Pinto – Meaning “painted” in Spanish, it may have referred to someone who worked with colors or painted items.

Moreno – Meaning “dark” or “brunet,” this surname may refer to someone with a darker complexion or hair.

Gálvez – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Galván,” possibly derived from an old Spanish name related to strength or power.

Lázaro – Derived from the Greek name Eleazar, meaning “God is my help,” this surname is often associated with religious connotations.

Bermúdez – A surname of Basque origin, meaning “son of Bermudo,” with roots in a warrior heritage.

Cabrera – Derived from “cabra,” meaning “goat,” likely referring to someone who worked with goats or lived near a goat farm.

Méndez – Derived from “Mendo,” meaning “gifted,” possibly denoting someone with special abilities or a noble family.

Paniagua – Refers to a “stream” or “watercourse,” indicating a family living near a water body.

Cordero – Means “lamb” in Spanish, symbolizing innocence and purity.

Barrientos – Derived from “barrio,” meaning “neighborhood” or “district,” possibly referring to someone living in a notable district.

Arias – A patronymic surname meaning “son of Arias,” with origins related to noble or warrior families.

Alvarado – Derived from “Alvaro,” meaning “guard” or “watchman,” often denoting someone in a protective role.

Salazar – A surname of Basque origin meaning “old hall” or “place of nobility.”

Rivas – Refers to a “riverbank” or “shore,” indicating a family that lived near a river.

Bravo – Meaning “brave” or “courageous,” likely denoting a person with strong or heroic qualities.

Villar – Derived from “villa,” meaning “town” or “village,” referring to someone from a rural area.

Del Río – Means “of the river,” referring to a family living near a river.

Madrigal – Refers to a “type of song” or “musical composition,” possibly linked to a musical family.

Valdés – Derived from “valle,” meaning “valley,” possibly referring to a family living in or near a valley.

Ceballos – Refers to “wild horse,” possibly denoting someone known for their strength or independence.

Menéndez – Derived from “Menendo,” meaning “son of Menendo,” a name associated with noble warriors.

Suárez – Derived from “suero,” meaning “sweat,” possibly indicating someone resilient or strong.

Ávila – Derived from the town name Ávila in Spain, it could indicate a person from that region.

Camacho – Likely a nickname for someone with a strong or forceful personality, derived from the word “camacho.”

Tejada – Derived from “tejado,” meaning “roof,” possibly referring to someone who worked in roofing or construction.

Núñez – Derived from “Nuño,” meaning “son of Nuño,” an old Spanish name meaning “noble” or “wise.”

Téllez – A surname of Spanish origin, meaning “son of Tello,” which likely refers to a family with noble or warrior origins.

Guerrero – Meaning “warrior,” a surname typically denoting a brave or battle-hardened family.

Rivas – Derived from “river,” indicating a family living near or associated with a river.

Ortega – Derived from “ortega,” meaning “thorn” or “bramble,” indicating a person associated with the wilds or nature.

Figueroa – Likely derived from “fig tree,” symbolizing strength or fruitfulness.

Duarte – Derived from “water” or “dwelling by water,” it may refer to a family near a body of water.

Paredes – Meaning “walls” in Spanish, denoting someone from or associated with a fortified place.

López – Derived from the Latin “lupus,” meaning “wolf,” symbolizing strength and fierceness.

Moya – Possibly derived from the Spanish word “moya,” meaning “mound” or “hill,” possibly referring to a family living in a highland area.

Carmona – Likely a toponymic surname referring to a town in Spain, indicating someone from that region.

Franco – Derived from “francus,” meaning “free,” often symbolizing a family with a noble or independent lineage.

Ferrer – Means “blacksmith” in Spanish, likely denoting a family of blacksmiths or metalworkers.

Soler – Derived from “sol,” meaning “sun,” symbolizing brightness or light.

Rocío – Means “dew” in Spanish, often symbolizing purity, freshness, or a connection to nature.

Correa – Derived from “correa,” meaning “belt,” possibly referring to someone who worked with leather or related trades.

Dávila – A toponymic surname, possibly referring to a town in Spain, symbolizing a family from that area.

Blanco – Meaning “white,” often associated with a family with light-colored hair or skin.

Ramón – Derived from the name “Ramón,” meaning “wise protector.”

Gálvez – A surname meaning “son of Galván,” possibly derived from an old Spanish name related to strength.

Álvarez – Derived from the name Álvaro, meaning “son of Álvaro,” symbolizing protection and watchfulness.

Morales – Refers to mulberry trees in Spanish, indicating a family living near or associated with these trees.

Aguilar – Derived from “águila,” meaning “eagle,” symbolizing strength, nobility, and vision.