Peruvian last names are a reflection of Peru’s rich history and culture. In Peru, like most Spanish-speaking countries, people follow Spanish naming conventions. When the Spanish arrived in Peru in the 16th century, they also brought their naming traditions from various regions in Spain. According to these conventions, Peruvians have two last names, often the father’s and the mother’s paternal family name (1). While the last names may be patronymics, most of them are topographic and habitational.
Additionally, before the Spanish, the Muslims and the Inca Empire also left their mark on Peruvian last names. Surnames such as Choque and Quispe have Arabic and Quechuan influences. As with any last name, Peruvian surnames also trace the country’s complex past. The names are a blend of Spanish and indigenous influences. It is a fascinating study of how history and culture combine to create a beautiful surname.
Peruvian Last Names
From Cruz to Valencia, Peruvian last names show a strong Spanish influence. However, Quechuan, Aymara, and Arabic last names hold their own in this country.
Common Peruvian Last Names
Some last names are found more commonly in Peru. These Peruvian surnames are mostly habitational or topographical.
1. Aguilar
Aguilar has Latin roots and is considered a habitational name. It means ‘eagle’ in Spanish.
2. Alvarez
Pronounced as AL-ba-rehs in Latin American Spanish, this surname is a variant of Álvarez. It means ‘son of Alvaro’ and has Visigothic roots that mean ‘all aware.’
3. Campos
Campos is the Spanish variant of Campo. It means ‘field’ and is also used as a Portuguese surname.
4. Cardenas
Also spelled as Cárdenas, this surname is considered habitational. It means ‘blue’ or ‘purple.’
5. Castillo
The Spanish variant of Castle, Castillo is pronounced as kas-TEE-yo. It means ‘castle’ and was given to a person who lived near a castle.
6. Castro
Castro also means ‘castle’ in Spanish. It is used as a Portuguese surname, too. Fidel Castro was the most notable bearer of this surname. Another famous person with this last name is Peruvian make-up artist, filmmaker, and entrepreneur, Marco Castro.
7. Chavez
Written alternatively as Chávez, this surname is related to the Roman family name Flavius. It means ‘golden’ or ‘yellow-haired.’
8. Condori
Condori is derived from the indigenous languages Aymara and Quechua. It means ‘condor’ or ‘vulture.’
9. Cordova
A form of Córdova and Córdoba, this surname means ‘Juba’s city.’ It has Phonecian roots and is also used as a Filipino surname.
10. Cruz
Cruz is the Spanish variant of Cross and also means the same. It is also often used as a Portuguese surname.
11. De la cruz
The Spanish variant of Delacroix, this surname has French roots. It means ‘of the cross.’ Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a colonial Mexican writer, composer, and poet, is considered one of the most important authors in Spanish literature.
12. Delgado
Delgado might have originated from a nickname. It means ‘thin’ in Spanish and Portuguese, and has Latin origins.
13. Diaz
Also written alternatively as Díaz, Diego, Santiago, and Jacobo, Diaz means ‘son of Diego.’ It has Hebrew roots and means ‘Saint James.’
14. Espinoza
A variant of Espinosa, this surname is a topographical one. It means ‘thorny.’
15. Fernandez
Also written as Fernández, this surname means ‘son of Fernando.’ It means ‘peaceful journey’ and is considered one of the most common surnames in Spanish-speaking countries.
16. Flores
Pronounced as FLO-rehs, this surname means ‘son of Floro.’ Flores is derived from the Latin word flos, which means ‘flower.’
17. Garcia
Alternatively written as García, this surname has possible Basque roots. It means ‘bear.’
18. Gomez
Gomez is a variant of Gómez and Gomes. It has been derived from Gothic elements through Medieval Portuguese and means ‘man.’
19. Gonzales
A Spanish variant of González, this surname means ‘son of Gonzalo.’ It means ‘war salve’ or ‘war house’ and is one of the most common surnames in Spanish-speaking countries.
20. Gutierrez
More commonly written as Gutiérrez, this surname means ‘son of Gutierre.’ These names are forms of Walter and mean ‘power of the army.’
21. Herrera
A Spanish version of Ferreira, this surname is pronounced as eh-REH-ra. It is a topographical name given to a person from a place near an iron mine.
22. Huaman
Spelled more commonly as Huamán, this surname has Quechuan roots and means ‘falcon’ or ‘hawk.’ It is pronounced as wa-MAN and is also spelled as Huaman and Waman.
23. Huamani
Huamani has Castilian roots and is used mainly in Peru. It is derived from the Inca mountain god Wamani.
24. Leon
Leon is a variant of Lyon, which may have different meanings. It may be a habitational name derived from Lugus or could mean ‘lion’ in Middle English and Greek.
25. Lopez
A variant of López, this surname means ‘son of Lope’ in Spanish. It has Latin origins and means ‘wolf.’ American singer and actress Jennifer Lopez is a celebrity with this surname.
26. Mamani
Another indigenous name, Mamani is derived from Aymara. It means ‘falcon’ or ‘hawk’ and may have originated as a nickname.
27. Martinez
Martinez is a patronymic that means ‘son of Martin.’ It has Latin origins and is associated with the Roman god Mars.
28. Medina
Medina is a surname with Arabic roots, reflecting the Muslim influence on the Iberian Peninsula. It means ‘Arab city.’
29. Mendoza
A surname with Basque roots, Mendoza is habitational. It means ‘cold mountain.’
30. Morales
Morales has a Latin origin and is derived from the Spanish word moral, which means ‘mulberry tree.’ It is pronounced as mo-RA-lehs.
31. Palomino
Originally used as a nickname, Palomino is derived from the same Spanish word. It means ‘young pigeon’ or ‘dove.’
32. Paredes
Derived from Latin through Spanish, this surname means ‘wall’ and may have been given to a person living near a wall. It is also a Portuguese surname.
33. Peña
A toponymic, Peña was given to a person living near a jutting rock. It means ‘rock’ or ‘cliff’ in Spanish. Michael Peña is a well-known American actor with this surname.
34. Perez
Perez is a patronymic and means ‘son of Pedro.’ These names are related to Peter and mean ‘rock.’ One of the most notable personalities of this name was Javier Pérez de Cuéllar. He was the fifth secretary-general of the United Nations and also the prime minister of Peru.
35. Quispe
An indigenous surname with Quechuan origins, Quispe is pronounced as KEES-peh. It means ‘free.’
36. Ramirez
Also spelled as Ramírez, Ramires, and Ramiro, this surname means ‘son of Ramiro.’ It means ‘famous law.’
37. Ramos
Ramos was given to a person who lived in a thick wooded area. It has Latin origins and means ‘branch.’
38. Reyes
The Spanish variant of Rey, this last name means ‘king.’ It is also used as a first name.
39. Rios
Also spelled as Ríos, this surname was given to a person who lived near a river. It has Portuguese and Latin roots and means ‘river.’
40. Rivera
Pronounced as ree-BEH-ra, this surname has Spanish and Latin origins. It means ‘bank’ or ‘shore.’
41. Rodriguez
Meaning ‘son of Rodrigo,’ Rodriquez is also spelled as Rodríguez. It has Old German roots and means ‘famous king.’
42. Rojas
A variant of Rojo, this surname is pronounced as RO-khas. It means ‘red’ and may have originated as a nickname for a person with red hair or clothes.
43. Romero
Romero is considered a divine name that means ‘pilgrim to Rome.’ It has Spanish and Latin origins.
44. Ruiz
Pronounced as RWEES in Latin America, this surname means ‘son of Ruy.’ It is associated with Rodrigo and means ‘famous ruler.’
45. Salazar
A Basque name, Salazar is a topographic name meaning ‘old hall.’ It has also gained popularity as a first name.
46. Sanchez
Also spelled as Sánchez, this surname means ‘son of Sancho.’ It means ‘saintly’ or ‘holy.’
47. Silva
Silva is derived from the Spanish and Portuguese word silva, which means ‘forest.’ It is used as a Portuguese surname, too.
48. Torres
Another topographic surname, Torres was originally given to a person who lived in or near a tower. It is pronounced as TO-rehs and is also used as Latin roots.
49. Vargas
Pronounced as BAR-ghas, this surname is topographical. It means ‘slope,’ ‘flooded field,’ ‘pastureland,’ or ‘hut’ and has Spanish and Portuguese dialectal roots. Mario Vargas Llosa is one of the most notable bearers of this surname. He is a Peruvian novelist, journalist, and essayist, considered one of Latin America’s best. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010 for his work.
50. Vasquez
Meaning ‘son of Vasco,’ this surname has Basque origins. It means ‘crow.’
51. Vega
Vega has Basque origins. It means ‘meadow’ or ‘plain.’
Popular Peruvian Last Names
Ranging from Quechian to Spanish, these Peruvian last names give a glimpse into Peru’s diverse past.
52. Aguirre
Pronounced as a-GHEE-rah, this surname is a toponymic. It means ‘open,’ ‘cleared,’ and ‘prominent’ and was given to a person who lived in an open area.
53. Alarcon
Spelled alternatively as Alarcón, this surname means ‘the fort.’ It has Arabic roots.
54. Alvarado
A habitational name, Alvarado is derived from a similarly-named place in Spain. It is possibly derived from the Spanish word alba which means ‘white.’
55. Arias
Pronounced as A-ryas, this surname has Germanic origins. It is also used as a Sephardic Jewish surname.
56. Ayala
Derived from the name of the town of Ayala in Álava, Spain, this surname has Basque origins. It means ‘slope’ or ‘pasture.’
57. Bautista
Bautista is derived from the same given name. It is the Spanish form of Baptiste and refers to John the Baptist. American actor and professional wrestler Dave Bautista is one of the most famous people with this surname.
58. Bravo
Originally used as a nickname, Bravo is now used as a surname in Spanish and Portuguese. It means ‘angry,’ ‘bold,’ and ‘brave.’ West Indian cricketer Dwayne Bravo is a well-known personality with this surname. The cartoon series Johnny Bravo also made this surname famous in the mainstream.
59. Cabrera
Cabrera is a habitational name derived from several places with similar names in Spain. It has Latin roots and means ‘place of goats.’
60. Caceres
Alternatively spelled as Cáceres, this surname is derived from the city of the same name in Extremadura. It has Arabic origins and means ‘the citadel.’
61. Calderon
One of the few Spanish occupational names, this surname is also spelled as Calderón. It was given to a person who made, repaired, or sold cauldrons or kettles.
62. Carrasco
Carrasco is a topographic name with Spanish roots. It means ‘holm oak.’
63. Choque
A Muslim surname, Choque is a derivative of Haq or Haqq. It means ‘true,’ ‘truth,’ or ‘reality,’ and is considered divine as Haqq is one of the 99 names of Allah (2).
64. Contreras
A Peruvian surname with Spanish and Latin origins, Contreras is a habitational name. It is derived from the name of a town in Burgos, Spain, and means ‘area opposite.’
65. Cueva
Cueva could be both a topographic and habitational name. It was given to someone who lived near a cave or from the places so named.
66. Davila
Another habitational name, Davila could have Punic or Celtic roots. It is usually given to someone from Ávila.
67. Guerra
Pronounced as GEH-ra in Spanish and GWEHR-ra in Italian, this surname was originally used as a nickname for a belligerent person or a soldier. It means ‘war.’
68. Guerrero
Guerrero is an occupational name in Spanish for a soldier. It means ‘warrior’ and has Germanic origins.
69. Guevara
Also spelled as Gebara and Guevarra, this surname is pronounced as gheh-BA-ra. It is a habitational name for someone from Gebara in Álava, Spain.
70. Guzman
Also spelled as Guzmán, this surname is habitational. It has Germanic origins and means ‘a great person.’
71. Hernandez
Written variously as Hernández and Hernando, this surname is a patronymic meaning ‘son of Hernando.’ It means ‘peaceful journey.’
72. Jara
Another habitational Spanish last name, Jara is derived from places named Jara or La Jara. It originates from the same Spanish word and means ‘rockrose’ or ‘cistus.’
73. Jimenez
Alternatively spelled as Jiménez, this surname is pronounced as khee-MEH-nehs in Latin American Spanish. It means ‘son of Jimeno’ and is associated with the Biblical Simon.
74. Juarez
Written variously as Juárez, Suarez, Suárez, and Suero, this surname is a patronymic. It means ‘heavy’ and ‘serious.’
75. Laura
Laura is possibly a habitational name for a place so named in Spain. It is also used as an Italian surname.
76. Lozano
Lozano means ‘healthy,’ ‘exuberant,’ and ‘lively’ in Spanish. It was originally used as a nickname for an elegant person.
77. Mejia
Mejia is derived from the Hebrew word messiah, which means ‘anointed’ and was given to a messiah. It is also used as a Galician surname.
78. Meza
A habitational surname in Spanish, this name is derived from various places named La Mesa in Spain. It means ‘table’ and is also used as a Slovene surname.
79. Miranda
Another habitational name, Miranda is derived from several places in Spain and Portugal. It has Latin roots and means ‘admirable’ and ‘wonderful.’ Lin-Manuel Miranda, an American songwriter, actor, and filmmaker, is one of the most popular people with this name. He is known for his work in several movies and Broadway musicals and for also winning numerous awards including a Pulitzer Prize and five Grammy Awards.
80. Moreno
Moreno is a surname derived from a nickname. It means ‘dark’ and is used both in Spanish and Portuguese.
81. Muñoz
A patronymic derived from medieval Spanish, Muñoz could have possible Germanic origins. It means ‘hill’ in Basque.
82. Navarro
Navarro was given to a person from Navarre in Spain. It has possible Basque origins and means ‘brown.’
83. Nuñez
A variant of Núñez, this surname means ‘son of Nuno.’ It means ‘ninth’ or ‘grandfather.’
84. Ortiz
A patronymic meaning ‘son of Orti,’ this surname has Latin roots. It means ‘brave,’ ‘strong,’ or ‘fortunate.’
85. Pacheco
Pacheco is related to the given name Francisco. It means ‘Frenchman.’
86. Palacios
A variant of Palacio, this Spanish surname is an occupational one. It means ‘palace’ and was given to someone who lived near or worked at a palace.
87. Puma
An Amerindian surname used in Puma, Bolivia, and Ecuador, Puma is also a Hispanic last name. It has Quechuan origins and means ‘puma,’ a large cat.
88. Quiroz
Quiroz is a variant of Quirós and is pronounced as kee-ROS. It is a habitational name derived from several places of the same name in Spain and means ‘heather.’
89. Rosales
Another surname that is both nature-related and topographical. It means ‘rose bushes’ in Spanish and is given to a person who lives near rose bushes or tends to them.
90. Saavedra
Also spelled as Savedra and Savedre, this surname is derived from the place of the same name. It means ‘descendant or son of a person from Saavedra.’
91. Salas
Salas is a habitational name from places with the element salas, which means ‘room’ or ‘hall.’ It is used as a Galician, Aragonese, Portuguese, Catalan, or Asturian surname.
92. Sandoval
A habitational name with Latin origins, Sandoval is derived from the town of the same name in Spain. It means ‘forest,’ ‘glade,’ and ‘unploughed land.’
93. Santos
Originally used as a nickname, Santos was often given to a pious or holy person. It means ‘saint’ in Spanish and Portuguese.
94. Soto
Soto means ‘grove of trees’ or ‘small forest’ in Spanish. It is spelled Sault in French.
95. Suarez
Also spelled as Suárez, this surname means ‘son of Suero.’ It has Germanic roots and means ‘heavy’ or ‘serious.’
96. Tello
Derived from a medieval personal name, it has possible Germanic origins. It is also an Italian surname.
97. Velasquez
Also spelled as Velásquez, this surname is derived from the first name Velasco. It has Basque origins.
98. Vera
Vera is a habitational name from several places in Spain named Vera or La Vera. It means ‘shore’ or ‘bank.’
99. Vilca
A topographical surname, Vilca means ‘farmstead’ or ‘settlement.’ It could also be a habitational name from Asturia.
100. Vilchez
A variant of Vilches, this surname is habitational. It is derived from a place in Jaén province.
101. Villanueva
Pronounced as bee-ya-NWEH-ba, this habitational surname is derived from several towns of the same name in Spain. It means ‘new town.’
102. Zapata
Zapata is an occupational surname given to a shoemaker. It is derived from the Spanish word zapato, which means ‘shoe.’
Unique Peruvian Last Names
Each Peruvian last name carries a blend of the country’s past, whether it is colonization or its indigenous roots. These unique names are a testament to the country’s diverse culture.
103. Acosta
The Spanish version of Da Costa, this surname is pronounced as a-KOS-ta. It has Latin origins and means ‘riverbank,’ ‘slope,’ and ‘coast.’
104. Acuña
Acuña is a habitational surname derived from a place named Acuña Alta. It is also a Galician surname.
105. Alfaro
Another habitational name, Alfaro was given to people who came from the city of Alfaro in La Rioja, Spain. It has Arabic roots and means ‘the watchtower.’
106. Alva
A variant of Alba, this Spanish surname is derived from a nickname. It means ‘white.’
107. Aquino
Another habitational surname, this last name is toponymic. It means ‘water’ and is also used as an Italian surname.
108. Arevalo
Also spelled as Arévalo, this habitational surname is derived from several places with the same name. It is of pre-Roman origin.
109. Avila
Pronounced as A-bee-la, this surname is derived from the city of the same name in Spain. It might have Punic or Celtic origin.
110. Becerra
Becerra is derived from a nickname for a high-spirited person. It means ‘young cow’ or ‘heifer.’ It could also be an occupational name.
111. Benites
A variant of Benitez, this surname is derived from the first name Benito. It means ‘blessed.’
112. Bustamante
Another habitational name, Bustamante is pronounced as boos-ta-MAN-teh. It means ‘pasture of Amantius.’
113. Carbajal
Also spelled as Carvajal and Carabajal, this surname is probably a habitational name. It means ‘oak.’
114. Carranza
Carranza is a Hispanicized Basque surname with Castilian origins. It is derived from the town of the same name in Basque Country.
115. Castañeda
Pronounced as kas-ta-NYEH-da, this surname is habitational. It means ‘chestnut grove’ in Spanish.
116. Correa
Correa is the variant of Correia. It is an occupational surname given to a person working with leather products and means ‘leather strap’ or ‘belt.’
117. Dominguez
Pronounced as do-MEENG-go in Latin America, this surname is also written as Domínguez, Domingo, and Mingo. It means ‘of the Lord’ and is given to a child born on a Sunday.
118. Escobar
Escobar could be a habitational or topographic name. It has Latin roots and means ‘broom.’
119. Estrada
Pronounced as ehs-TRA-dha, this surname is the Spanish variant of Street. It is a habitational name for a person who lived in a place so named. It means ‘Roman road.’
120. Farfan
Possibly derived from the Spanish word farfán, this surname refers to the group of Spaniards who traveled to Morocco in the 8th century. It could also be a habitational name from a place in Granada.
121. Figueroa
Figueroa is a topographic or habitational name. It has Galician roots and means ‘fig tree.’
122. Gamarra
A Peruvian surname with Basque origins, this last name is habitational. It is derived from any of the several places with similar names in the Araba or Álava province in the Basque Country.
123. Hidalgo
Pronounced as ee-DHAL-gho, this surname could be both a nickname or occupational one. It means ‘nobleman’ in Spanish.
124. Huanca
Huanca is a Peruvian surname that surprisingly has Irish roots. It is a variant of Hagan and means ‘young.’
125. Hurtado
Another occupational surname, Hurtado is derived from the Spanish word hurtar. It means ‘to steal.’
126. Inga
Inga is a Hispanic surname used mainly in Peru and Ecuador. It is a variant of Inca and is used either as an ethnic name, a topographic name, or even a nickname.
127. Julca
Julca has Slavic origins and is a derivative of the first name George. It means ‘farmer’ and is used as a Czech, Slovak, Romanian, and Slovenian surname, too.
128. Luna
Luna is an interesting habitational surname. It means ‘moon’ in Spanish.
129. Ochoa
The Spanish version of Otxoa, this surname has Basque roots. It means ‘wolf.’
130. Paucar
Another surname used mainly in Peru and Ecuador, this surname has Quechuan origins. It means ‘jungle bird’ and is also spelled as Páucar.
131. Peralta
Peralta is a habitational name derived from various places with the same name in Aragon, Catalonia, and Navarre. It has Latin origins and means ‘high rock.’
132. Pinedo
A surname with multiple origins, Pinedo could be a habitational name. In Basque, it is the name of a town in Araba or Álava province, while in Spanish, it is from several places with the same name meaning ‘pine forest.’
133. Poma
Poma means ‘apple’ or ‘fruit’ in Spanish and was possibly derived from a byname. It is also used as an Italian and Catalan surname.
134. Ponce
Derived from the Latin Pontius, this surname could mean ‘fifth’ or ‘sea.’ It could also be a habitational name from an Ancient Roman town named Santiponce in Seville, Spain.
135. Rivas
Pronounced as REE-bas, this surname is the Spanish version of Riva. It means ‘bank’ or ‘shore’ and was originally given to someone who lived near a river or lake.
136. Robles
Also written as Robledo, this surname is considered topographical. It was given to a person who lived near an oak tree or forest as the Spanish word roble means ‘oak.’
137. Roman
Derived from the same given name, this surname also means ‘Roman.’ It is also used as a Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish last name.
138. Saldaña
Also written as Saldana, this surname is derived from several places in Palencia, Segovia, and Burgos. American actress Zoe Saldana is one of the most famous people with this surname.
139. Salinas
Salinas could be both an occupational and topographical name. It means ‘salt works’ or ‘salt mines’ and was given to a person who worked at a salt pan or lived near one.
140. Solis
Alternatively spelled with an accent as Solís, this habitational surname is derived from a village name in Asturias. It means ‘sun’ in Spanish.
141. Tapia
Another topographical name, Tapia was given to someone who lived near a mud wall. It could also be a habitational name from several places so named in Galicia, Asturias, and Burgos.
142. Ticona
A surname with Basque origins, Ticona is habitational. It is derived from Likoa in Biscay.
143. Trujillo
A habitational surname, Trujillo is derived from the city of the same name in Cáceres province. It has possible Arabic origins.
144. Valdivia
Valdivia could be both a topographic or a habitational surname and means ‘valley.’
145. Valencia
Derived from the Spanish city of Valencia, this surname is habitational. It has Latin roots and means ‘strength.’
146. Valverde
Valverde is possibly a topographical name. It might refer to a place that is a landscape with greenery, water, and flowers.
147. Vela
Pronounced as BEH-la, this surname is derived from the same Spanish word. It could mean ‘sail’ or ‘watchful.’
148. Ventura
Ventura is derived from the first name Bonaventura. It means ‘good fortune’ and is used as an Italian, Portuguese, and Catalan surname, too.
149. Villegas
Pronounced as bee-YEH-ghas in Latin America, this surname is habitational. It is derived from the town of Villegas in Burgos province, Spain.
150. Zevallos
An alternative variant of Ceballos, Zevallos is used mainly in Peru. It is a habitational name from a place in Cantabria.
151. Zuñiga
A habitational name, this surname is also spelled as Zúñiga. It is derived from a Spanish town named Estuniga in Basque and means ‘channel’ or ‘strait.’
Peruvian last names, like the country itself, are a beautiful blend of influences. The Spanish tradition of using double-barreled names reflects respect for parents and family lineage. Popular names such as Garcia and Rodriguez hint at Spanish influences, while surnames such as Alfaro, Huaman, and Mamani indicate Arabic and indigenous cultures. Every Peruvian last name carries a story and offers a glimpse into the country’s past and present.
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When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.
