This list includes 43 Spanish last names that start with U, from “Ubieta” to “Úbeda”. Many of these names show regional roots, historical occupations, or Basque and Arabic influences.
Spanish last names that start with U are family names used across Spain and Latin America with diverse linguistic roots. For example, “Úbeda” ties to a historic city in Andalusia.
Below you’ll find the table with [COLUMN_NAMES]
Surname: The family name itself, so you can quickly locate and recognize a specific last name.
Meaning / Origin: A brief etymology or literal meaning, helping you understand cultural or linguistic roots.
Notable people: One or two famous bearers with a short descriptor, useful for historical or cultural context.
Regional notes: Where the surname appears most often or its regional variants, so you see geographic patterns.
Spanish last names that start with U
| Surname | Meaning/Origin | Region/Country | Notable bearers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ulloa | Toponymic from Galicia | Spain, Latin America | Antonio de Ulloa (1716–1795), Spanish scientist and naval officer |
| Úbeda | Toponymic from Úbeda (Jaén) | Spain | — |
| Ugalde | Basque toponym, “wide valley” | Spain, Mexico | — |
| Ugarte | Basque, “courtyard” or “farmstead” | Spain, Peru | — |
| Ugarteche | Compound Basque variant of Ugarte | Argentina, Peru | — |
| Ugarroz | Basque variant of Ugarte | Spain, Chile | — |
| Urdaneta | Basque toponym “valley of alders” | Spain, Venezuela | Rafael Urdaneta (1788–1845), Venezuelan independence leader |
| Urdiales | Toponymic from Urdiales places | Spain | — |
| Urdangarín | Basque toponymic | Spain | Iñaki Urdangarin (b.1968), athlete and royal consort |
| Uribe | Basque toponym or district name | Colombia, Spain | Álvaro Uribe Vélez (b.1952), Colombian president |
| Uriburu | Basque “town-head” (uri+buru) | Argentina | José Félix Uriburu (1868–1932), Argentine president |
| Uría | Toponymic; northern Spain origins | Spain | — |
| Uriarte | Basque compound, “near the town” | Spain, Argentina | — |
| Ureta | Basque toponymic | Chile, Spain | — |
| Urquiza | Basque toponymic | Argentina | Justo José de Urquiza (1801–1870), Argentine president |
| Urquijo | Basque noble family name | Spain | Enrique Urquijo (1960–1999), Spanish singer-songwriter |
| Urquiaga | Basque toponymic | Spain, Mexico | — |
| Urquiola | Basque diminutive/variant | Spain, Cuba | — |
| Urrutia | Basque, “distant/remote place” | Spain, Chile | — |
| Urrutikoetxea | Extended Basque compound surname | Spain | — |
| Urribarri | Basque toponymic | Argentina, Spain | — |
| Urriza | Basque variant of Urritz/urria | Spain | — |
| Urrea | Toponymic, Navarre/Castile origins | Spain, Mexico | Luis Alberto Urrea (b.1955), Mexican-American author |
| Ursúa | Basque noble family name | Spain, Philippines | Pedro de Ursúa (1526–1561), Spanish conquistador |
| Urzúa | Variant of Ursúa, Basque origin | Chile | — |
| Urbina | Basque toponymic | Spain, Venezuela | — |
| Urbizu | Basque variant surname | Spain | — |
| Urbano | From Latin Urbanus, “city dweller” | Spain, Philippines | — |
| Urtasun | Basque family name | Spain, France | — |
| Urtubia | Basque toponymic | Spain, Colombia | — |
| Uzcátegui | Basque-Venezuelan family name | Venezuela, Spain | — |
| Usabiaga | Basque toponymic | Spain, Mexico | — |
| Usandizaga | Basque surname | Spain, Argentina | — |
| Usón | Aragonese/Catalan surname | Spain | — |
| Unzueta | Basque toponymic | Spain, Cuba | — |
| Uceda | Toponymic from Uceda (Guadalajara) | Spain | — |
| Uclés | Toponymic from Uclés (Cuenca) | Spain | — |
| Ubieta | Basque/Navarre surname | Cuba, Spain | — |
| Ubilla | Basque/Latin American surname | Chile, Uruguay | — |
| Urdaniz | Basque toponymic variant | Spain | — |
| Unanue | Basque-Navarre surname | Peru, Spain | Hipólito Unanue (1755–1833), Peruvian physician and statesman |
| Ugartegi | Basque form of Ugarte | Spain | — |
| Urrunaga | Basque toponymic | Spain | — |
Descriptions
Ulloa
Galician-origin surname found across Spain and former colonies. Associated with colonial administration and science; variants include de Ulloa. Moderate frequency in Latin America, especially Ecuador and Chile.
Úbeda
Surname derived from the Andalusian city of Úbeda. Used as a family name since medieval times; appears in Spain and among emigrant communities. Variants rarely occur; indicates ancestral origin.
Ugalde
A Basque-origin surname common in Navarre and Basque Country; widespread in Mexico and Chile. Variants: Ugaldi. Often indicates rural or valley origins.
Ugarte
Very common Basque surname used broadly in Spain and Latin America. Many regional variants (Ugarteche, Ugartegui). Frequently tied to Basque emigration to the Americas.
Ugarteche
A longer Basque-derived form associated with prominent families in Argentina and Peru. Recognizable as an aristocratic or landed-family name in 19th–20th centuries.
Ugarroz
Less common Basque surname related to Ugarte; found in northern Spain and Chile. Typically toponymic and regional.
Urdaneta
Historic Basque surname prominent in colonial and republican Latin America. Carried by explorers and politicians, especially in Venezuela; widely attested since the 16th century.
Urdiales
Surname from coastal Cantabria and Biscay place-names. Found regionally in northern Spain and among diaspora communities.
Urdangarín
Distinct Basque surname (often spelled Urdangarín) associated with Navarre/Basque families. Recognizable in national media; rare outside Spain.
Uribe
Prominent Basque-origin surname especially common in Colombia. Many bearers trace ancestry to Basque settlers; high public visibility due to politicians and businessmen.
Uriburu
Historic Basque surname notable in Argentine politics and military history. Indicates Basque roots; seen among elite families.
Uría
Short surname found in Asturias and Galicia. Toponymic and moderately rare; appears in historical records and modern registries.
Uriarte
A Basque family name common in Navarre and Basque Country, also present among Argentinian emigrants. Multiple spellings exist.
Ureta
Basque-origin surname especially frequent in Chile due to migration. Toponymic and regionally concentrated.
Urquiza
Famous Basque-rooted surname in Argentina; associated with historic political leadership. Common in Río Negro and Entre Ríos provinces.
Urquijo
Notable Spanish surname linked to nobility and politics. Present in Madrid and historical records; family branches prominent since the 19th century.
Urquiaga
Basque surname found in Spain and Mexico. Toponymic origin, less frequent than Urquiza/Urquijo.
Urquiola
A less common Basque-derived surname appearing in Spain and the Caribbean. Often indicates family origin from a small settlement.
Urrutia
Very common Basque surname with many branches across Spain and Latin America, especially Chile. Numerous historical figures and modern bearers.
Urrutikoetxea
Long-form Basque surname preserved in Navarre/Basque Country. Highly regional and characteristic of Basque-language naming patterns.
Urribarri
Basque-rooted surname well represented among Argentinian and Spanish families. Toponymic and regionally concentrated.
Urriza
Regional Basque surname with limited but steady presence in Navarre and neighboring provinces.
Urrea
Spanish surname found in Castile and Navarre; widely represented in Mexico and the US Hispanic diaspora. Historical and literary bearers contribute to notability.
Ursúa
Historic Basque surname often linked to 16th-century conquistadors and colonial officials. Variants: Ursua, Ursúa; appears in colonial records worldwide.
Urzúa
Common in Chile and parts of Latin America; variant spelling of Ursúa. Frequent among families of Basque descent.
Urbina
Basque-origin surname widespread in Spain and Latin America. Carried by colonial settlers; many modern bearers across professions.
Urbizu
Regional Basque surname with limited dispersion; toponymic origin and local concentration.
Urbano
Surname and occasional given name; used in Spain and former Spanish territories. Often derived from an ancestor’s personal name.
Urtasun
Basque surname common in Navarre and the French Basque Country. Toponymic and family-based usage.
Urtubia
Regional Basque surname appearing in northern Spain and among Colombian families of Basque origin. Toponymic roots.
Uzcátegui
Surname tied to historic Basque settlers in Venezuela. Prominent in colonial and republican-era families; spelled Uzcátegui with accent.
Usabiaga
Basque-origin surname present in Basque Country and Mexico; often associated with merchant and political families.
Usandizaga
Distinct Basque family name appearing in regional records and Argentine immigrant communities. Toponymic and aristocratic associations possible.
Usón
Surname from Aragon/Catalonia region; moderate frequency and literary bearers in Spain. Several regional spellings exist.
Unzueta
Basque-derived surname found among Spanish and Cuban families. Often linked to artists and emigrant communities.
Uceda
Surname originating from the town of Uceda in Castilla–La Mancha. Historically locational and present in Spanish records.
Uclés
Derived from the fortress town of Uclés; used as family name since medieval times. Occurs in Castile and among emigrants.
Ubieta
Basque-Navarrese surname with presence in Cuba and Spain; typically toponymic and regional.
Ubilla
Surname of Basque origin common in Chile and Uruguay. Often linked to farming and local elites.
Urdaniz
Regional Basque surname related to Urdaneta; localized in Navarre and Gipuzkoa.
Unanue
Prominent surname in Peru and northern Spain. Associated with Enlightenment-era figures and early republican politics.
Ugartegi
Regional Basque variant (Ugarte → Ugartegi) found especially in Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia. Clearly toponymic and local.
Urrunaga
Less common Basque surname seen in Navarre and nearby provinces. Toponymic origin and family-based transmission.