115 Common Cuban Surnames and What They Mean

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Discover the origins and meaning of your Cuban last name

Co-authored by Bertha Isabel Crombet, PhD

Last Updated: October 1, 2025 Fact Checked

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Most Common

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Popular

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Unique & Rare

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Historical

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Cuban Surname Facts

The small island nation of Cuba is home to 11 million people whose last names are as colorful and vibrant as the island itself. Cuba gained official independence from Spain in 1902, but its colonial history left behind surnames from all over Europe, creating a cultural and racial melting pot. Whether you’re marrying into a Cuban family or you’ve recently visited Cuba and are interested in learning more about its rich and complex past, we’ve compiled a list of the most common, popular, and famous last names in Cuba.

The Top 10 Most Common Cuban Surnames

Rodriguez
Gonzalez
Perez
Hernandez
Garcia
Martinez
Diaz
Lopez
Fernandez
Sanchez

Section 1 of 5:

Most Common Cuban Last Names

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Many common Cuban last names come from Spain. Due to colonialism, many Cuban family names have roots in Spain. When the Spanish settlers arrived in the 16th century, their language and customs mixed with the established indigenous practices, creating a unique hybrid culture that still exists today, with many family names as proof. Here is a list of the most common surnames in Cuba:^{[1]
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- Álvarez (al-vah-res): Meaning “son of Alvaro” and also means garden.
  - Fun Fact: Adalberto Álvarez is one of the most well-known Cuban musicians.
- Benítez (be-nee-tes): Meaning “son of Benito.”
  - Fun Fact: Uruguayan chess champion Otto Benítez notably bears this name,
- Blanco (blahn-coe): Spanish word for “white.”
  - Fun Fact: Grammy-nominated producer Benny Blanco bears this surname.
- Castillo (cahs-tee-ya): Meaning “castle.”
  - Fun Fact: Mexican actress Kate del Castillo is a very famous bearer of this name.
- Cabrera (cah-breh-rah): Derived from Latin, describing “a place with lots of goats.”
  - Fun Fact: Colombian-American singer-songwriter Ryan Cabrera bears this surname.
- Caballero (cah-bah-ye-roe): Derived from Latin, meaning a “soldier on horseback.”
  - Fun Fact: Elizabeth Caballero is a Cuban-American soprano singer.
- Cuevas (coo-eh-vahs): Meaning “caves.”
  - Fun Fact: Pablo Cuevas is a Uruguayan tennis coach and player.
- Delgado (delle-gah-doe): Meaning “thin.”
  - Fun Fact: Carlos Delgado is a famous Puerto Rican baseball player.
- De la Cruz (deh-lah-cruise): Meaning, “of the cross.”
  - Fun Fact: Filipina-American writer Melissa de la Cruz is a bearer of this name.
- Diaz (dee-az): Derived from Latin, meaning “days,” or “son of Diego.”
  - Fun Fact: Actress Cameron Diaz is half-Cuban.^{[2]
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- Falcón (fahl-cohn): Meaning “falcon” or someone who raises falcons.
  - Fun Fact: Juan Crisóstomo Falcón was the president of Venezuela in the mid-19th century.
- Fernández (fehr-nan-des): Meaning “brave voyager.”
  - Fun Fact: Mexican singer Vicente Fernández is a world-renowned music sensation.
- Fuentes (foo-ehn-tes): Meaning “fountains.”
  - Fun Fact: Spanish soccer player Adrián Fuentes bears this surname.
- García (gar-cee-ah): Derived from German, meaning “dominion of the spear.”
  - Fun Fact: Andy Garcia is a Cuban actor and filmmaker.
- Hernández (err-nahn-des): Meaning a courageous voyager; similar to Fernández.
  - Fun Fact: Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was the 56th president of Argentina.
- Iglesias (eeh-gleh-see-as): Meaning “churches.”
  - Fun Fact: Enrique Iglesias and Julio Iglesias are a Spanish singing father-son duo.
- Infante (een-fahn-teh): Meaning “child.”
  - Fun Fact: Historically, children born to reigning monarchs in Spain were given the title of “Infante” at birth.
- Lago (lah-goe): Meaning “lake” or someone who lives by a lake.
  - Fun Fact: Poet, actor, and all-around creative Mário Lago famously bore this name.
- León (leh-ohn): Meaning “lion.”
  - Fun Fact: Spanish explorer and conquistador Juan Ponce de León is credited with discovering Florida.
- López (low-pes): Derived from the Latin for “wolf”; also means “son of Lope.”
  - Fun Fact: Entertainment triple-threat Jennifer Lopez is one of the most famous bearers of this name.^{[3]
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- Martinez (mar-tee-nes): Meaning “son of Martin.”
  - Fun Fact: French actor Olivier Martinez bears this name.
- Medina (meh-dee-nah): Derived from Arabic, meaning “city.”
  - Fun Fact: Mexican footballer Alberto Medina bears this name.
- Mendez (mehn-des): Meaning “son of Mendo”; can be spelled with an “s” instead of “z.”
  - Fun Fact: Actress Eva Mendes famously has this name.
- Nuñez (noo-gnez): Meaning “grandfather” or “landowner.”
  - Fun Fact: Most known for his character in The Office of the same name, Oscar Nunez is a Cuban-American actor.
- Ortega (or-teh-gah): Meaning a “black bird.”
  - Fun Fact: Jenna Ortega, of Wednesday Adams fam,e is a very famous bearer of this name.
- Pérez (peh-res): Meaning “son of Pedro.”
  - Fun Fact: Puerto Rican actress Rosie Perez is best known for her work in films like Do the Right Thing and TV.
- Pereira (peh-rey-rah): Derived from Portuguese, meaning a “pear tree.”
  - Fun Fact: Brazilian mixed martial artist Alex Pereira is a bearer of this name.
- Reyes (rey-yes): Meaning “kings.”
  - Fun Fact: Mexican visual artist Pedro Reyes is a bearer of this name.
- Rios (ree-ohs): Meaning “river.”
  - Fun Fact: Chilean tennis player Marcelo Ríos Mayorga was the first Latin American to be ranked #1 in the world.
- Rojas (roe-has): Derived from the Spanish word “rojo,” meaning “red.”
  - Fun Fact: Mexican actress Lorena Rojas is best known for her roles in soap operas.
- Rodríguez (roe-dree-ges): Meaning “son of Rodrigo.”
  - Fun Fact: Puerto Rican MLB player Alex Rodriguez is a notable bearer of this name.
- Suarez (soo-ah-res): Meaning “Suero’s son.”^{[4]
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  - Fun Fact: Spanish actress Blanca Martínez Suárez is best known for her work in TV and film.
- Torres (toe-res): Meaning “tower.”
  - Fun Fact: Best known for TV shows like Firefly and Suits, American actress Gina Torres bears this name.
- Vega (veh-gah): Meaning “someone who lives in a field” or “meadow.”
  - Fun Fact: Colombian model Paulina Vega was awarded the title of Miss Universe in 2014.
- Villanueva (vee-ya-noo-eh-vah): Meaning a “new house” or “homestead.”
  - Fun Fact: Portrayed by Gina Rodriguez, Jane Villanueva is the name of the main character in the popular TV show Jane the Virgin.

Section 2 of 5:

Other Popular Cuban Last Names

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Other popular Cuban surnames come from Latin or place names. The term “toponymic” refers to names that are named after a place, such as “Arroyo” and “Sevilla.” A lot of popular surnames are also derived from Latin and Catalan, languages closely related to Spanish, such as “Roque” and “Vives.” Here are some other popular Cuban surnames you should know:^{[5]
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- Avila (ah-vee-lah): Derived from the Latin “avis” meaning “bird.”
  - Fun Fact: This last name is also the name of a town in Spain, after Saint Teresa.^{[6]
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- Alfonso (all-phone-so): Surname of Germanic origin, meaning “noble” and “ready.”
  - Fun Fact: Many kings of Spain and Portugal bore this name, beginning with King Alfonso in the 8th century.
- Arce (are-seh): Meaning “stone”.
  - Fun Fact: Many Spanish and Latin American leaders bore this name, like Luis Arce, the 67th president of Bolivia.
- Arenas (ah-reh-nas): Meaning “sand.”
  - Fun Fact: A popular 1993 Brazilian soap opera was titled “Mujeres de Arena,” meaning “Women of Sand.”
- Aragón (ah-rah-gone): Meaning “valley.”
  - Fun Fact: This surname was most likely adopted from the first wife of King Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon.
- Armas (ar-mas): Meaning “arms” or “weapons.”
  - Fun Fact: Cuban actress Ana de Armas is a well-known celebrity with this name.
- Arroyo (ah-roh-yo): Meaning “small river” or “stream” used for irrigation.
  - Fun Fact: Poet Rane Arroyo, who was of Puerto Rican descent, bore this name.^{[7]
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- Bernal (ber-nahl): Derived from Germanic, meaning “strength of a bear.”
  - Fun Fact: Bernal is the name of a village in Mexico.
- Beltrán (bell-trahn): Derived from Germanic, meaning “bright, and “raven.”
  - Fun Fact: Mexican-American actor Robert Beltran is well known for his role in the series Star Trek: Voyager.
- Betancourt (beh-tan-cur): Derived from the French “Béthencourt,” meaning “farmyard.”
  - Fun Fact: Rómulo Betancourt served as the president of Venezuela for two terms.
- Bello (beh-yo): Derived from Italian, meaning “handsome” or “beautiful.”
  - Fun Fact: The name is also popular in West African countries like Nigeria and Niger.
- Benavídez (behn-ah-vee-des): Derived Arabic name, meaning “the son of the servant of God.”
  - Fun Fact: American boxer David Benavidez bears this name.
- Castaneda (cas-tah-neh-da): Meaning “chestnuts.”
  - Fun Fact: Carlos Castaneda was a prominent American writer.
- Calderín (caul-deh-reen): Meaning “cauldron.”
  - Fun Fact: Evelio Calderín was a Cuban professional baseball player in the early 20th century.
- Cisnero (sis-neh-roe): From the Spanish “cisne,” meaning “swan.”
  - Fun Fact: Chicana poet and author Sandra Cisneros is a famous bearer of this name.^{[8]
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- Corzo (core-zoe): Meaning “deer” and or “someone shy.”
  - Fun Fact: Peruvian football player Aldo Corzo bears this name.
- Coronado (core-oh-nah-doe): Meaning “to be crowned.”
  - Fun Fact: A city in California is named Coronado.
- Ibarra (eeh-ba-rrah): Derived from Basque, meaning “valley.”
  - Fun Fact: Former Cuban vice president Abelardo Colomé Ibarra bears this name.
- Miranda (meeh-rahn-dah): Meaning something or someone who “deserves acclaim.”
  - Fun Fact: Wrestler Jimmy Miranda had an illustrious 20-year career.
- Montalván (mohn-tahl-van): Meaning “white alps.”
  - Fun Fact: Author and advocate Luis Carlos Montalvan bore this name.
- Ojeda (oh-he-dah): Meaning “a pile of leaves.”
  - Fun Fact: Puerto Rican political activist Filiberto Ojeda Río bore this name.
- Otero (oh-te-roh): Meaning “height” or describing someone who lives at a higher altitude.
  - Fun Fact: Blas de Otero was an influential Spanish poet in the 1950s-1960s.
- Pacheco (pa-che-co): Meaning “noble.”
  - Fun Fact: This name was thought to have evolved from the Roman soldier, Vivio Pacieco.^{[9]
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- Quintana (kin-tah-nah): Meaning a “country house.”
  - Fun Fact: American actress Priscilla Quintana is known for her work on the CW and Peacock.
- Roque (roe-keh): Derived from Catalan, meaning “rock.”
  - Fun Fact: Ana Roqué de Duprey was an activist, suffragist, and founder of the University of Puerto Rico.
- Santamaría (san-tah-mah-ree-ah): Meaning “blessed Mary.”
  - Fun Fact: Cuban musician Mongo Santamaría is a famous bearer of this name.
- Santana (san-tah-nah): Refers to Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary.
  - Fun Fact: Carlos Santana is an American guitarist credited with bringing Mexican rock music to the masses.^{[10]
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- Saavedra (sah-veh-drah): Meaning “an ancient hall.”
  - Fun Fact: José Daniel Ortega Saavedra is the current co-president of Nicaragua.
- Sevilla (seh-vee-ya): Meaning “valley.”
  - Fun Fact: Sevilla is a major city in Southern Spain.
- Tamayo (tah-mah-yo): Derived from Catalan, meaning “cattle feed.”
  - Fun Fact: Afro-Cuban cosmonaut Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez made history when he first traveled into space in 1980.
- Valverde (vahl-ver-deh): Meaning a “green valley.”
  - Fun Fact: Uruguayan football player Federico Valverde bears this name.
- Valladares (vah-ya-dah-res): Meaning “a barrier or a stockade.”
  - Fun Fact: Cuban rower Alfredo Valladares competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics.
- Vives (vee-ves): Derived from Latin, this name is a form of a blessing, meaning “may you live long.”
  - Fun Fact: Colombian singer Carlos Vives is a famous and beloved bearer of this name.

Section 3 of 5:

Unique & Rare Cuban Last Names

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Less common surnames are influenced by France and West Africa. Since Cuba is a hodgepodge of cultures, not every name originates from Spain. In fact, there are various well-known families with French, African, and Arabic origins. In fact, it is believed that over 4,000 Spanish words have been derived from Arabic, including “arroz,” meaning “rice,” and “limón,” meaning “lemon.” Here are some less common surnames that also make a cultural splash:^{[11]
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- Adeshina (ah-deh-shee-nah): From Yoruba in West Africa, meaning “crown opens the way.”
  - Fun Fact: Remigio Herrera Adeshina was a famous Cuban Yoruba priest.
- Aldana (all-dah-nah): This name describes a place by a hill or slope.
  - Fun Fact: King Thedrick’s heirs were thought to have settled “The House of Aldana” near Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Aparicio (ah-pah-ree-cee-oh): Meaning “ghost” or “apparition.”
  - Fun Fact: Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio is a bearer of this name.
- Armenteros (arr-men-teh-roz): Meaning "herdsman" or "someone who tends to livestock.”
  - Fun Fact: Cuban pro baseball player Rogelio Armenteros is a famous bearer of this name.
- Ascencio (ah-sehn-see-oh): Meaning “ascension.”
  - Fun Fact: This surname is thought to have originated among Christians to allude to the ascension of Christ.
- Ayala (ah-yah-lah): Basque in origin, meaning “pasture by the hill.”
  - Fun Fact: There have been many famous athletes bearing this name, like Bobby Ayala and Roberto Ayala.
- Avellaneda (ah-veh-ya-neh-dah): Loosely meaning “hazelnut forest.”
  - Fun Fact: Avellaneda is the name of a city in Argentina.
- Balmaseda (ball-mah-seh-dah): Meaning “valley of vineyards.”
  - Fun Fact: This is also the name of a town in Spain.
- Basílio (bah-see-lee-oh): Derived from Greek, meaning "royal" or "kingly.”
  - Fun Fact: Brazilian guitarist Lari Basilio is a famous bearer of this name.
- Bauzá (ba-oo-zah): Likely from Catalan, meaning “silly” or “foolish.”
  - Fun Fact: This name is most commonly found in the Balearic Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Spain.
- Borges (bore-jes): Means “of the town,”
  - Fun Fact: Argentine poet and author Jorge Luis Borges was a pioneer in international literature.^{[12]
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- Borja (bore-ja): Derived from Arabic, meaning “tower.”
  - Fun Fact: The Borja family, also spelled “Borgias,” was a powerful Italian-Spanish noble family that heavily influenced European culture and politics in the 15th and 16th centuries.
- Bosch (boh-sh): Likely derived from Catalan, meaning “forest.”
  - Fun Fact: Orlando Bosch Ávila was a Cuban political figure who opposed Fidel Castro’s revolution.
- Cañizares (cah-gni-zah-res): Meaning “person who lives by the tall grass.”
  - Fun Fact: Alejandro Cañizares is a professional Spanish golfer.
- Céspedes (says-peh-des): Pural of “Césped,” meaning “peat.”
  - Fun Fact: Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y Quesada was the 6th President of Cuba.
- Chauviteau (shoh-vee-to): Derived from French; likely a variant of “Chauvet.”
  - Fun Fact: A popular restaurant on the French island of Île d'Yeu bears this family name.
- Crombet (chrom-bet): From Old French, meaning “little raven” or “little crow.”
  - Fun Fact: Flor Crombet was a beloved patriot and an instrumental figure in the Cuban War of Independence.^{[13]
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- Donant (doh-nahnt): From Gaelic, meaning "descendant of Donnán."
  - Fun Fact: There is a sizeable population of Irish descendants in Cuba, ranging from 40,000 to 50,000 people.^{[14]
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- Delfín (delle-feen): Meaning “dolphin.”
  - Fun Fact: Mexican diplomat Remigio Delfín is a famous bearer of this name.
- Destrade (des-trah-deh): Meaning a “destined” or “paved path.”
  - Fun Fact: Cuban MLB player Orestes Destrade played for the Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Despaigne (deh-spain): Means “Of Spain.”
  - Fun Fact: Cuban baseball player Alfredo Despaigne Rodríguez is currently an outfielder for the Alazanes de Granma in Cuba.
- Godard (goh-darde): Derived from Germanic, meaning "good,” “strong,” or “brave.”
  - Fun Fact: Neville Goddard was a Barbadian writer and spiritual leader, offering self-help practices via the law of assumption.^{[15]
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- Gurulé (goo-rool): Likely from the French “grol,” meaning “crow” or “jackdaw.”
  - Fun Fact: This surname is thought to have emerged when Frenchman Jacques Grole was forced to change his name to Santiago Gurulé after being captured during the La Salle Expedition of 1685.^{[16]
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- Lascaris (lass-cah-riz): Derived from the Byzantine-Greek language, meaning “warrior” or “soldier.”
  - Fun Fact: The Lascarises were a powerful royal family that ruled the Empire of Nicaea in the 13th century.^{[17]
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- Lafargue (lah-farg): From French, meaning a “weaver” or “tailor.”
  - Fun Fact: Paul Lafargue was a Cuban-French political activist, Marxist, and writer.
- Lafleur (lah-flurr): From French, meaning "the flower."
  - Fun Fact: Canadian hockey player Guy Lafleur is in the Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame.
- Laurier (lah-ree-eh): From French, meaning "laurel.”
  - Fun Fact: Sir Wilfrid Laurier was the 7th Prime Minister of Canada.
- Lebourgeois (leh-booge-juah): From French, meaning “the citizens."
  - Fun Fact: Louise Bourgeois was a French-American painter, sculptor, and all-around artist.^{[18]
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- Leblanc (leh-blanque): From French, meaning "the white one."
  - Fun Fact: American comedic actor Matt LeBlanc is a famous bearer of this name.
- Lefevre (leh-fev-reh): From French, meaning "the blacksmith."
  - Fun Fact: Henri Lefebvre was a French philosopher and famous bearer of this name.
- Milian (mih-lee-ahn): Likely deriving from Latin, meaning "rival."
  - Fun Fact: Singer-songwriter Christina Milian is a famous bearer of this name.
- Piquet (pee-que): From French, meaning “small stake” or “small post.”
  - Fun Fact: Nelson Piquet is a Brazilian Formula 1 driver.
- Sarria (sah-rree-ah): Derived from Basque or Catalan, meaning “place of the willows.”
  - Fun Fact: José Sarria was a famous LGBTQ+ rights activist and drag queen.^{[19]
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- Sierra (cee-eh-rah): Meaning “saw-toothed mountain range.”
  - Fun Fact: Located in southeastern Cuba, the Sierra Maestra is most notable mountain range in the island.^{[20]
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- Supervielle (soo-per-vee-eh): Derived from French, meaning “dwelling over the town.”
  - Fun Fact: Jules Supervielle was a French-Uruguayan poet who was nominated for the Nobel Prize.^{[21]
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Section 4 of 5:

Historically Significant Cuban Last Names

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Many historically important Cuban last names come from the 20th century. The 20th century was a time of political and cultural change for Cuba. Influential people in Cuba’s history are well known among the people, and their last names alone leave behind iconic legacies. Some are honored and praised, while the actions of others are considered far more questionable in modern day. Regardless, the following famous surnames are attached to some pretty high-profile people:^{[22]
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- Agüero (ah-goo-eh-roe): Derived from Latin, meaning "well-watered settlement.”
  - Fun Fact: Andrés Rivero Agüero was the 12th Prime Minister of Cuba and became the president of Cuba in 1958.
- Arnaz (arr-naz): Likely from Basque, meaning “strong.”
  - Fun Fact: Cuban actor, comedian, and musician Desi Arnaz is best known for his role as Ricky Ricardo in I Love Lucy, introducing American audiences to Cuban culture.^{[23]
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- Bacardí (bah-car-dee): From Catalan, likely referring to a small fish.
  - Fun Fact: The Bacardís were a prominent family in Cuba who built the rum empire still thriving today.^{[24]
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- Batista (bah-tees-tah): Meaning “Baptist.”
  - Fun Fact: Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista is one of the most notable people with this famous surname.
- Castro (caz-troe): Meaning “castle” or “fortress.”
  - Fun Fact: “Castro” derives from “Castillo,” and Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was a famous bearer of this name.
- Cienfuegos (see-ehn-foo-eh-goes): Meaning “one hundred fires.”
  - Fun Fact: Camilo Cienfuegos Gorriarán was a patriot and prominent figure in the liberation of Cuban villages from Spanish bondage. The Cuban city of Cienfuegos is named after him.
- Cruz (croo-ze): Meaning “cross.”
  - Fun Fact: Known as the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz was one of the most famous and beloved musical artists of the 20th century, known for her catchphrase: “Azúcar!”^{[25]
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- Guevara (geh-vah-rah): Likely of Basque-Spanish origin, meaning "place of the river," "ravine," or "gorge."
  - Fun Fact: Che Guevara led the Cuban War for Independence against Spain. He is a controversial figure in Cuban history, with many praising him as a free-thinking revolutionary and others condemning him as a murderer.^{[26]
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- Guillén (ghee-yen): Meaning “son of Guillén”; Spanish equivalent of William.
  - Fun Fact: Nicolás Guillén was a prominent Afro-Cuban activist and poet.^{[27]
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- Martí (marr-tee): From Latin, meaning "dedicated to Mars" or "warlike.”
  - Fun Fact: Cuban poet and revolutionary José Martí is one of the most beloved and revered figures in Cuban history.
- Sotomayor (soh-toe-mah-jor): Meaning "main wood" or “grove.”
  - Fun Fact: Cuban track and field Olympic athlete Javier Sotomayor currently holds the world record in the sport.
- Zayas (zah-yas): Derived from Basque, meaning “guard” or “watchman.”
  - Fun Fact: Alfredo de Zayas was President of Cuba from 1921 to 1925.

Section 5 of 5:

More About Cuban Last Names

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1
Many Cuban family names emerged from Cuba’s diverse ethnic makeup. Originally, Cuba was home to various indigenous tribes, including the Taíno and Ciboney people. When the Spanish settlers arrived in the early 16th century, they brought their language, customs, and art, which were additionally influenced by Arabic culture. Later, freed Africans introduced their own traditions, beliefs, and dialects.^{[28]
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- The Basque region, nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France, also birthed a number of iconic Cuban surnames.
- Over the last few hundred years, all of these cultures have merged beautifully, resulting in many last names we see today.
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The most common last name in Cuba is Rodriguez. According to some sources, the most common last name in Cuba is Rodriguez, with 853,073 bearers of the surname. Other very common Cuban last names include González, Pérez, Hernández, and García. All of these names are Spanish in origin and speak to the island’s largest cultural majority.^{[29]
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Cubans typically take both their father’s and mother’s last names. Rooted in Spanish tradition, this custom encourages a child to take both their mother's and father’s surnames, honoring both sides of the family. This tends to result in long hyphenated last names, often coupled with a middle name, which is also very common in Cuban culture.^{[30]
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