Here you’ll find 17 Spanish last names that start with Q, organized from “Querejeta” to “Quiñónez”. Many are regional or patronymic, and some use diacritics like “ñ”.
Spanish last names that start with Q are family names used in Spain and Latin America beginning with Q. They often reflect places, occupations, or ancestral given names, appearing in both old records and modern registries.
Below you’ll find the table with the columns ‘Surname’, ‘Meaning/Origin’, and ‘Notable people’.
Surname: You see each surname in its common spelling, including diacritics and frequent regional variants.
Meaning/Origin: You get a brief etymology or origin that helps you trace geographic, linguistic, or occupational roots.
Notable people: You find one or two notable individuals with a short descriptor to show historical or cultural relevance.
Spanish last names that start with Q
| Surname | Meaning | Primary region/country | Estimated bearers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quesada | from Quesada; possibly “cheesemaker” | Spain, Latin America | 60,000 |
| Quevedo | from the place Quevedo (toponymic) | Spain, Latin America | 25,000 |
| Quero | from the village Quero (Toledo) | Spain, Peru | 6,000 |
| Quijada | jaw, jawbone | Spain, Latin America | 8,000 |
| Quijano | from Quijano (toponymic) | Peru, Spain, Latin America | 12,000 |
| Quiroga | from Quiroga (Galician toponym) | Galicia (Spain), Argentina | 40,000 |
| Quiñones | holder of a quiñón (land allotment) | Spain, Puerto Rico, Latin America | 45,000 |
| Quiñónez | variant of Quiñones (Ecuadorian spelling) | Ecuador, Peru | 8,000 |
| Quintana | farmstead; country house (toponymic) | Spain, Latin America | 80,000 |
| Quintanilla | little farmstead (diminutive of Quintana) | Mexico, United States | 35,000 |
| Quintero | from la quinta (country estate) or tenant of a quinta | Andalusia (Spain), Latin America | 60,000 |
| Quinteros | plural/variant of Quintero | Argentina, Chile, Latin America | 20,000 |
| Querejeta | Basque toponymic surname | Basque Country (Spain) | 3,000 |
| Quispe | Quechua/Aymara origin; likely “precious”/native personal name | Peru, Bolivia | 200,000 |
| Quirós | from Quirós (Asturian toponym) | Asturias (Spain), Latin America | 15,000 |
| Quiles | possibly from a Valencian toponym or medieval personal name | Puerto Rico, Spain | 6,000 |
| Queroza | variant/less common surname derived from Quero (rare) | Peru, Spain | 500 |
Descriptions
Quesada
Toponymic surname from towns named Quesada (Jaén); common in Spain and former colonies. Variants: Queso (rare). Notable: Francisco Quesada (several historical figures), modern bearers across Latin America.
Quevedo
Castilian toponymic name with medieval roots. Famous bearer: Francisco de Quevedo (1580–1645), leading Spanish Golden Age poet and satirist.
Quero
Toponymic surname from Quero in Toledo; also found in Peru and Latin America. Variants: de Quero. Notable bearers include regional politicians and artists in Spain and Peru.
Quijada
Originally a nickname from Spanish quijada (“jaw”). Widespread in Mexico, Venezuela. Notable: José Quijada (b.1995), Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher.
Quijano
Toponymic or nickname origin; found across Spanish-speaking Americas. Notable: Aníbal Quijano (1928–2018), Peruvian sociologist and theorist.
Quiroga
Galician toponymic surname; prominent in Spain and Argentina. Variants: de Quiroga. Notable: Horacio Quiroga (1878–1937), Uruguayan short-story writer.
Quiñones
From medieval quiñón (share/allotment). Common in Spain and former colonies. Variants: Quiñón, Quiñonez (US spelling). Notable: José Abelardo Quiñones (1914–1941), Peruvian aviator hero.
Quiñónez
Ecuadorian/Andean variant of Quiñones; reflects local spelling. Notable: César Quiñónez (b.1983), Ecuadorian footballer.
Quintana
Very common Spanish toponymic surname from many villages called Quintana. Variants: de Quintana. Notable: Andrés Quintana Roo (1787–1851), Mexican politician and independence-era figure.
Quintanilla
Diminutive of Quintana; widespread in Mexico and among Mexican-Americans. Notable bearers: Selena Quintanilla (1971–1995), Tejano singer; Suzette Quintanilla (b.1967), musician.
Quintero
Occupational/toponymic origin tied to a quinta (farm). Strong presence in southern Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico. Notable: Joaquín Álvarez Quintero (1873–1944), Spanish playwright (with brother Serafín).
Quinteros
Variant or pluralized form of Quintero; common in Southern Cone countries. Notable: Miguel Quinteros (b.1947), Argentine chess grandmaster.
Querejeta
Basque-origin surname recorded in Navarre and Gipuzkoa. Notable: Elías Querejeta (1934–2013), Spanish film producer; Gracia Querejeta (b.1962), film director.
Quispe
Indigenous Quechua/Aymara surname common in the Andes; fully integrated into Spanish-language records. Variants: Quespe. Notable: Felipe Quispe (1942–2021), Bolivian indigenous leader and politician.
Quirós
Asturian toponymic surname; often written Quirós with accent. Variants: de Quirós. Notable: Álvaro Quirós (b.1983), Spanish professional golfer.
Quiles
Found in Puerto Rico and eastern Spain; etymology uncertain, likely toponymic. Variants: Quillis (rare). Bearers include Puerto Rican athletes and public figures.
Queroza
Rare derivative of Quero found in Peru and Spain; attested in colonial-era records. Regional variant with localized families; few modern bearers recorded. Notable: regional local figures (historical municipal records).