150+ Common Peruvian Last Names Or Surnames, With Meanings

✔ Research-backed

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.

In This Article

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.

protip_icon Did you know?
Fernandez is related to the Germanic name Ferdinand, which means ‘brave traveler.’ The Portuguese form of Fernandez is Fernandes, while the Arabic variant is Faranda.

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.

Morales is a Peruvian last name

Image: Momjunction Design Team

protip_icon Trivia
Miles Morales is one of the most popular fictional characters with this last name. He is a teenager whose alter-ego is Spider-Man in the Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man comic book series.

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.’

Caceres is a Peruvian last name

Image: Momjunction Design Team

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.

protip_icon Quick fact
Argentine Marxist revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara played a major part in the Cuban Revolution and is often associated with rebellion.

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.

Rosales is a Peruvian last name

Image: Momjunction Design Team

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.

protip_icon Trivia
Velasquez is used in several Hispanic countries. A popular personality with this surname is Regine Velasquez, the Filipino singer, songwriter, and actress.

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.’

protip_icon Did you know?
Correa is alternatively spelled as Correia in Portuguese and Galician. It may also be written as Currea.

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.’

Figueroa is a Peruvian last name

Image: Momjunction Design Team

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.

Discover More Names

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do Peruvian last names work?

Peruvians follow Spanish naming conventions. Hence, they have two last names. The personal name of a Peruvian is followed by the father’s paternal family name (apellido paterno) and then the mother’s paternal family name (apellido materno).

2. What are some common prefixes and suffixes in Peruvian last names?

Spanish surnames often use the preposition de with pronouns such as el, la, los, or las. They appear in many surnames. Moreover, the prefix de is also used to separate the first name and family name. Examples of common suffixes include -ez and -z. As Peruvians follow the same naming system, you can find these prefixes and suffixes in Peruvian last names as well.

3. Can Peruvians trace their ancestry through their last names?

As Peruvians use both their paternal and maternal family names, it becomes easy to trace the ancestry of a person on both sides. For instance, if a person has the last names Gomez and Lopez, they can trace their mother’s family through the surname Lopez and their father’s family through the surname Gomez.

Key Pointers

  • Peruvian last names follow Spanish naming conventions.
  • Some Peruvian last names such as Gomez, Diaz, Velasquez, and Fernandez are common in many Hispanic families.
  • Peruvian surnames are mostly topographic or habitational. However, a few may be patronymic and occupational, too.

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Peruvian Culture: Naming.
    https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/peruvian-culture/peruvian-culture-naming
  2. 52. Al-Haqq الحق.
    https://www.al-islam.org/ninety-nine-attributes-allah-yasin-t-al-jibouri/52-al-haqq-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%82
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Nisha Bharatan is a writer with six years of experience. After completing her engineering from Savitribai Phule Pune University, she did content marketing courses to complement her interest in writing. Nisha discovered her passion for writing in 2016 when she started documenting her journey into motherhood.

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