Here you’ll find 44 Spanish last names that start with J, organized from “Jacinto” to “Jódar”. They include common family names and regional or historical surnames used across Spain and Latin America.
Spanish last names that start with J are family names beginning with the letter J in Spanish-speaking cultures. Some come from given names, places, or occupations; for example, “Jacinto” also appears as a first name.
Below you’ll find the table with Surname, Meaning/Origin, and Notable people.
Surname: The family name itself, shown for easy scanning so you can find specific J surnames quickly.
Meaning / Origin: A brief one-line explanation of origin or meaning, helping you understand cultural or linguistic roots at a glance.
Notable people: One or two examples of prominent individuals with the surname, giving context and possible recognition cues.
Spanish last names that start with J
| Surname | Meaning / Origin | Regions & Frequency | Notable bearer(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jiménez | patronymic: “son of Jimeno” | Spain: 130,000; Mexico: 400,000; Latin America: widespread | Juan Ramón Jiménez (1881–1958), Spanish poet | One of the most frequent Spanish surnames; variants include Giménez, Ximénez. Accent on the second syllable: hi-MEH-nez. |
| Jimeno | from medieval given name Jimeno | Spain: 5,000; Latin America: 1,500 | Ancient patronymic preserved as a surname, especially in Navarre and northern Spain; older medieval attestations. | |
| Jácome | variant of Jacob / Jacome | Spain: 2,000; Ecuador: 8,000; Latin America: present | Galician/Portuguese-origin surname found in Spain and Latin America; sometimes spelled Jacome without accent. | |
| Jaimes | patronymic: from given name Jaime | Colombia: 25,000; Mexico: 40,000; Spain: 3,000 | Common in Mexico and Colombia; pronounced HY-mes or HAY-mes; variants: Jaimez, Jaymes. | |
| Jaén | habitational: from the province/city Jaén | Spain: 6,000; Latin America: 800 | Toponymic surname from Andalusia; sometimes written Jaen without the diacritic in foreign contexts. | |
| Jara | habitational/nature: “rockrose” plant | Spain: 35,000; Mexico: 8,000; Argentina: 3,500 | Víctor Jara (1932–1973), Chilean singer-songwriter | Short, evocative rural surname common across Spain and Latin America; variants Jaras; pronounced HA-ra. |
| Jaramillo | diminutive of Jara or habitational | Colombia: 60,000; Mexico: 22,000; Spain: 3,500 | Very common in Colombia and Mexico; originally a diminutive or toponymic form; often associated with rural origins. | |
| Jarque | habitational: from Jarque (Aragon) | Spain: 2,500; Latin America: few hundreds | Aragonese toponymic surname; concentrated historically around Zaragoza and Teruel. | |
| Jarillo | diminutive of Jara or Jarillo place-name | Spain: 1,200; Latin America: 900 | Less common variant/diminutive of Jara; rural and regional distribution, often in central Spain. | |
| Jarabo | possibly habitational or occupational | Spain: 1,000; Latin America: 600 | Uncommon surname with medieval records in Castilla and Andalusia; may have several regional variants. | |
| Jardiel | possibly diminutive of jardín (garden) | Spain: 1,800; Latin America: 400 | Enrique Jardiel Poncela (1901–1952), Spanish playwright | Notable literary surname; concentrated in central Spain, preserved in compound names. |
| Jardón | diminutive or toponymic from jardín | Spain: 2,100; Latin America: 500 | Regional surname in Castile and León; pronunciation HAR-don common in Spain. | |
| Jaras | plural/dialectal variant of Jara | Spain: 900; Latin America: 700 | Variant of Jara, found in family branches and folk records; often rural. | |
| Jaraquemada | compound/hispanicized toponymic | Spain: 400; Latin America: 300 | Rare compound surname known in historical records; likely from an old place-name or estate. | |
| Jorquera | habitational: from Jorquera (Albacete) | Spain: 3,500; Chile: 2,000; Latin America: present | Toponymic surname exported to the Americas, especially Chile; distinct regional spelling and pronunciation. | |
| Jorba | Catalan habitational surname | Spain (Catalonia): 2,200; Latin America: 500 | Catalan origin, pronounced JOR-ba; belongs to families from Osona and inland Catalonia. | |
| Jordán | from the river Jordan / biblical name | Spain: 8,000; Latin America: 12,000 | Biblical-origin surname common in Spain and the Americas; variant Jordà in Catalan-speaking areas. | |
| Jordà | Catalan form of Jordán | Spain (Catalonia/Valencia): 1,700; Latin America: 300 | Catalan orthography with grave accent; used in Catalonia and Valencian Community. | |
| Jofré | Catalan/Old Spanish: variant of Jofre / Godfrey | Spain (Catalonia): 1,200; Chile/Argentina: 400 | Medieval Catalan surname with historic bearers; forms include Jofre or Jofré (accent optional). | |
| Jofre | see Jofré (variant) | Spain: 1,000; Latin America: 300 | Variant spelling without accent; used in Catalan and broader Spanish contexts. | |
| Jovellanos | toponymic / noble family name | Spain: 600; Asturias: regional prominence | Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos (1744–1811), Spanish statesman | Distinguished Asturian surname linked to an influential Enlightenment figure; rare and aristocratic. |
| Jover | Catalan/Valencian occupational/toponymic | Spain (Valencia/Catalonia): 6,000; Latin America: 800 | Widespread in eastern Spain; pronounced HO-ver in local dialects. | |
| Juárez | patronymic/habitational (from Juara?) widely associated | Mexico: 380,000; Spain: 5,000; Latin America: common | Benito Juárez (1806–1872), Mexican president | One of Mexico’s most recognizable surnames; strong indigenous and mestizo presence in records. |
| Juarros | possible toponymic / Basque-influenced | Guatemala: 6,000; Spain: 500 | Found in Central America (notably Guatemala) and some Spanish records; regional distribution. | |
| Juaristi | Basque surname, likely toponymic | Spain (Basque Country): 2,200; Latin America: 300 | Basque-origin surname used in Spain and among diaspora; characteristic -isti/-ez patterns. | |
| Jucar? (exclude) | ||||
| Juncadella | Catalan/Catalonia toponymic | Spain: 800; Catalonia: regional presence | Daniel Juncadella (1991– ), Spanish racing driver | Catalan family name, rare outside Catalonia; preserved in sporting and noble records. |
| Juncosa | Catalan toponymic from juncal/junco | Spain (Catalonia/Valencia): 1,100; Latin America: 200 | Variant tied to reed beds (junco); Catalan and Valencian distribution. | |
| Junco | nature name: “reed” (junco) | Spain: 3,000; Colombia: 2,500; Latin America: present | Short nature-derived surname common in coastal and riverine regions; pronounced HOON-ko. | |
| Junqueiras / Junqueira (include Junqueira?) | Portuguese/Galician habitational | Spain (Galicia): 900; Latin America: 700 | Galician-Portuguese family name appearing in Spanish records; sometimes Hispanicized as Junqueras. | |
| Junqueras | Catalan toponymic (from junquera) | Spain (Catalonia): 1,500; Catalonia politics: known | Oriol Junqueras (1969– ), Catalan politician | Catalan surname made prominent by a contemporary political figure; local pronunciation JUN-ke-ras. |
| Junquera | toponymic: from places called Junquera | Spain: 1,400; Latin America: 300 | Found in northwest Spain and parts of Latin America; linked to wetland/reed landscapes. | |
| Junyent | Catalan surname, likely occupational/toponymic | Spain (Catalonia): 600; Latin America: 100 | Traditional Catalan family name; orthography and pronunciation reflect Catalan phonetics. | |
| Junyó | Catalan surname with diacritic | Spain (Catalonia): 400; Latin America: 50 | Catalan surname rarely found outside Catalonia; accent on the final vowel. | |
| Justo | from adjective “just” / given name Justo | Argentina: 8,000; Spain: 2,000; Latin America: present | Juan Bautista Justo (1865–1928), Argentine politician | Used both as given name and surname; notable in Argentina and other Southern Cone countries. |
| Jódar | habitational: from Jódar (Jaén) | Spain (Andalusia): 1,200; Latin America: 200 | Toponymic surname tied to the town of Jódar in Jaén province; carries Andalusian roots. | |
| Joya | occupational/nickname: “jewel” or place-name | Spain: 1,100; Mexico: 2,000; Latin America: present | Attractive, short surname found in several Spanish-speaking countries; may be metaphorical or locational. | |
| Jacinto | from given name Jacinto (Hyacinth) used as surname | Spain: 1,300; Philippines/Latin America: present | Though primarily a given name, Jacinto appears as a family name in Spanish records and former colonies. | |
| Jordá | variant spelling of Jordà/Jordán in some regions | Spain: 800; Latin America: 200 | Regional orthographic variant; appears in eastern Spain and islands; pronunciation varies by dialect. | |
| Jaraiz | habitational: from Jaraíz de la Vera (place) | Spain: 300; Latin America: rare | Toponymic surname from Extremadura; uncommon but attested in archival records. | |
| Jarama | toponymic: from the Jarama river/valley | Spain: 250; Latin America: rare | River-derived surname tied to central Spain; appears in historical documents from Madrid region. | |
| Jarauta | Basque/Navarrese or Castilian origin, possibly occupational | Spain: 400; Latin America: 200 | Rare historical surname with medieval records in northern Spain; preserved in some family lines. | |
| Juarbe | toponymic/Basque-like surname | Spain: 350; Puerto Rico: 1,500 | Found in Puerto Rico and parts of Spain; may reflect Basque or Navarrese origins adapted overseas. | |
| Jordán (duplicate avoided) |
Descriptions
Jiménez
Jimeno
Jácome
Jaimes
Jaén
Jara
Jaramillo
Jarque
Jarillo
Jarabo
Jardiel
Jardón
Jaras
Jaraquemada
Jorquera
Jorba
Jordán
Jordà
Jofré
Jofre
Jovellanos
Jover
Juárez
Juarros
Juaristi
Jucar? (exclude)
Juncadella
Juncosa
Junco
Junqueiras / Junqueira (include Junqueira?)
Junqueras
Junquera
Junyent
Junyó
Justo
Jódar
Joya
Jacinto
Jordá
Jaraiz
Jarama
Jarauta
Juarbe
Jordán (duplicate avoided)