This list includes 61 Spanish last names that start with L, from “Lafuente” to “López”. These surnames include locative names, patronymics, and occupational forms common across Spain and Latin America. You can use the list for genealogy, choosing character names, or exploring cultural naming patterns.
Spanish last names that start with L are family names used across Spanish-speaking regions, often reflecting places, occupations, or ancestry. For example, “López” is historically one of the most widespread Spanish surnames.
Below you’ll find the table with Last name, Meaning/Origin, and Notable people.
Last name: The surname itself, so you can scan spellings and locate variants quickly.
Meaning/Origin: Summarizes etymology or geographic origin in one line, helping you judge cultural or regional connections.
Notable people: Lists one or two famous bearers with a brief descriptor, so you quickly recognize historical or contemporary relevance.
Spanish last names that start with L
| Surname | Meaning | Origin/Region | Estimated bearers (approx.) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| López | son of Lope (from Latin ‘lupus’, “wolf”) | Spain; widespread in Latin America | 11,000,000 people | Patronymic from the given name Lope (Latin lupus). Variants: Lopes (Portuguese). Extremely widespread; notable bearers: Jennifer López (1969), singer/actress; José López Portillo (1920), former Mexican president. |
| Luna | moon | Spain; Mexico, Argentina, Philippines | 400,000 people | Nickname or toponymic surname from “luna” (moon). Common in Spain and the Americas. Notable bearers: Diego Luna (1979), Mexican actor; Graciela Luna (Argentine artist). |
| León | lion | Spain; Latin America | 600,000 people | From medieval nickname meaning “lion” or from the city León. Variants: Leon (no accent). Notable bearers: Ricardo León (footballers share name); José León (various politicians). |
| Lozano | handsome, lush | Spain; Mexico, Colombia | 300,000 people | Descriptive surname from Spanish “lozano” (healthy, lush). Widespread in Latin America. Notable bearers: Jorge Lozano (1963), Mexican tennis player; Rafael Lozano (1970), boxer. |
| Lara | toponymic (from Lara region) | Spain; Latin America | 250,000 people | Toponymic name from the historic House of Lara (Castile). Variants: de Lara. Notable bearers: Javier Lara (footballer); Mario Lara (writer). |
| Ledesma | from Ledesma (place) | Spain; Argentina | 80,000 people | Toponymic from Ledesma (Salamanca). Variants: de Ledesma. Used by Spanish and colonial families. Notable bearers: Ricardo Ledesma (politician). |
| Lucero | bright star, little light | Spain; Mexico, Argentina | 200,000 people | From “lucero” (bright star) or a nickname. Used widely in Latin America. Notable bearers: Lucero (1969), Mexican singer/actress (stage name); Lucero Soto (artist). |
| Lugo | from Lugo (Galicia) | Spain; Cuba, Puerto Rico, Latin America | 500,000 people | Toponymic from the Galician city of Lugo. Many colonial-era dispersals. Notable bearers: Arístides Lugo (politician); Rosendo Lugo (artist). |
| Luque | from Luque (place) | Spain; Paraguay, Argentina, Spain | 200,000 people | Toponymic surname from towns named Luque; common in Andalusia and Paraguay. Notable bearers: Antonio Luque (engineer); Carlos Luque (footballer). |
| Luján | devotion to Our Lady of Luján / place name | Spain; Argentina | 140,000 people | Toponymic and devotional surname tied to Virgen de Luján. Prominent in Argentina. Notable bearers: Ricardo Luján (politician); Adrián Luján (sportsman). |
| Llorente | son of Llorente/locational | Spain; Latin America | 120,000 people | Likely from a toponym or medieval personal name. Variants: Lorente. Notable bearers: Fernando Llorente (1985), Spanish footballer; José Llorente (politician). |
| Llamas | flames; possibly given name-derived | Spain; Mexico | 100,000 people | Could derive from “llama” (flame) or place names; common in Mexico. Notable bearers: Elizabeth Llamas (journalist); Adrián Llamas (actor). |
| Leal | loyal | Spain; Latin America | 160,000 people | Descriptive surname from adjective “leal” (loyal). Used in Spain and colonies. Notable bearers: Andrés Leal (politician); Olga Leal (artist). |
| Lebrón | of the hare (lebrón) or variant of Lebre | Puerto Rico; Dominican Republic; Spain | 220,000 people | Possibly from “lebrín/lebrón” (big hare) or a place name. Common in Caribbean. Notable bearers: Griselda Lebrón (activist); Concepción Lebrón (politician). |
| Lázaro | Lazarus; healed by God | Spain; Latin America | 60,000 people | From biblical name Lázaro (Lazarus). Variants: Lazaro. Notable bearers: José Lázaro (writer); Lázaro Ramos (actor) — Brazilian with Hispanic-rooted surname. |
| Leiva | variant of Leyva; likely toponymic | Spain; Chile, Argentina | 70,000 people | Toponymic/variant spelling of Leyva; common in Chile and Argentina. Notable bearers: Matías Leiva (footballer); Carla Leiva (artist). |
| Leyva | from Laiva / toponym | Spain; Mexico, Colombia | 180,000 people | Historic Castilian surname with variant Leiva. Notable bearers: Antonio de Leyva (1480–1536), Spanish general; Tierra Leyva (modern figures). |
| Lazo | knot, loop | Cuba, Mexico, Latin America | 100,000 people | Occupational or nickname from “lazo” (lasso/knot). Common in the Caribbean. Notable bearers: Humberto Lazo (artist); Manuel Lazo (athlete). |
| Linares | from place named Linares | Spain; Latin America | 200,000 people | Toponymic from many towns called Linares. Also denotes willow groves. Notable bearers: Linares family (musicians); José Linares (politician). |
| Lorenzo | from given name Lorenzo (lawful) | Spain; Latin America | 130,000 people | Patronymic from Latin Laurentius (Lorenzo). Used as surname and given name. Notable bearers: Frank Lorenzo (1940), businessman; Javier Lorenzo (athlete). |
| Lorca | from place Lorca (Murcia) | Spain; literary association | 50,000 people | Toponymic surname from Lorca (Murcia). Most famous bearer: Federico García Lorca (1898), poet/dramatist. Variant: de Lorca. |
| Larrea | from Basque toponym (oak grove) | Basque Country, Spain; Latin America | 40,000 people | Basque toponymic meaning “meadow” or “oak grove.” Variants: Larrea/Larreta. Notable bearers: Álvaro de Larrea (businessman). |
| Larraín | Basque toponymic surname | Basque Country; Chile | 25,000 people | Basque origin, important aristocratic family in Chile. Variants: Larrain (no accent). Notable bearers: Arturo Larraín (Chilean politician). |
| Lazcano | Basque origin, “place of the ash tree” | Basque Country; Mexico | 18,000 people | Basque toponymic (Lazkao/Lazcano). Variants: Lazkano, Laskano. Notable bearers: Félix Lazcano (actor); Eduardo Lazcano (athlete). |
| Lora | plural of “laura” or toponymic | Spain; Latin America | 90,000 people | Possibly from toponym or medieval personal name. Common in Andalusia. Notable bearers: Felipe Lora (sportsman); Carmen Lora (writer). |
| Lorente | variant of Llorente / locational | Spain; Latin America | 30,000 people | Regional variant of Llorente, Castilian origin. Notable bearers: Óscar Lorente (athlete); Ana Lorente (artist). |
| Lafuente | the fountain | Spain; Latin America | 45,000 people | Toponymic from “la fuente” (the spring). Variants: Fuente, de la Fuente (excluded leading prepositions here). Notable bearer: Isabel Lafuente (actress). |
| Landeros | Basque/Spanish, “from Landeros” | Spain; Mexico | 35,000 people | Likely locational from Basque-influenced places; common in Mexico. Notable bearers: Juan Landeros (politician). |
| Landero | toponymic; place-derived | Spain; Mexico | 18,000 people | Variant of Landeros / locational surname. Notable bearer: Fernando Landero (artist). |
| Landázuri | Basque toponymic | Basque Country; Latin America | 6,000 people | Basque-origin surname often spelled Landazuri; seen in Peru and Ecuador. Notable bearers: Miguel Landázuri (scholar). |
| Laguna | lagoon, marsh | Spain; Philippines; Latin America | 25,000 people | Toponymic from “laguna” (lagoon); found in Spain and former colonies. Notable bearers: Francisco Laguna (historian). |
| Lamelas | diminutive of “lamela” or toponymic | Galicia; Spain; Latin America | 12,000 people | Galician/Portuguese-origin surname; variants Lamelas/Lamela. Notable bearers: José Lamelas (athlete). |
| Lamela | small blade or toponymic | Galicia; Spain; Latin America | 10,000 people | Galician or Asturian toponymic; also Italian resemblance but present in Spain. Notable bearers: Erik Lamela (1992), Argentine footballer. |
| Lamadrid | from La Madrid / toponymic | Spain; Argentina | 6,000 people | Toponymic surname seen in Spain and Argentina. Historical families in Buenos Aires. Notable bearer: Gregorio de Lamadrid (military leader). |
| Lamas | from “Lama” (plain) or Portuguese origin | Spain; Argentina, Peru | 30,000 people | Toponymic from ‘lama’ (bog) or Portuguese influence. Notable bearers: Ramón Lamas (writer); María Lamas (journalist). |
| Landa | plain, open country; Basque toponymic | Basque Country; Spain; Mexico | 65,000 people | Basque toponym meaning “field.” Variants: Landaeta. Notable bearers: Eduardo Landa (footballer); Mikel Landa (1989), Spanish cyclist. |
| Lastra | from “la astra” or rocky place | Spain; Latin America | 28,000 people | Likely toponymic/occupational. Found in Spain and Latin America. Notable bearer: Patricia Lastra (politician). |
| Latorre | the tower | Spain; Latin America | 75,000 people | From “la torre” meaning “the tower”; contracted to Latorre. Variants: de la Torre (excluded). Notable bearers: Daniel Latorre (musician). |
| Lecuona | Basque toponymic | Basque Country; Cuba | 12,000 people | Basque-origin surname notable in Cuba; composer Ernesto Lecuona (1895) is famous. Variants: Lekuona. |
| Lizárraga | Basque toponymic “place of ash trees” | Basque Country; Spain; Latin America | 22,000 people | Basque toponymic (Lizarraga). Variants: Lisarraga. Notable bearer: Juan de Lizárraga (colonial official). |
| Lizcano | Basque/Spanish toponymic variant | Spain; Colombia | 8,000 people | Variant of Basque surnames like Lizaso/Lizcano. Notable bearers: Hernán Lizcano (cyclist). |
| Lillo | diminutive of “Lillo” place name | Spain; Chile, Argentina | 20,000 people | May derive from small place name or given name diminutive. Notable bearers: Carmen Lillo (artist). |
| Lechuga | lettuce (nickname/occupational) | Spain; Mexico | 10,000 people | Nickname or occupational name from “lechuga” (lettuce). Found in rural families. Notable bearers: Carlos Lechuga (director). |
| Leguizamo | Basque-origin surname used in Colombia | Colombia; USA | 8,000 people | Basque toponymic adopted in Spanish America. Notable bearer: John Leguizamo (1964), actor/comedian (Colombian-American). |
| Leguizamón | variant spelling of Leguizamo | Argentina; Paraguay | 10,000 people | Regional variant common in Río de la Plata. Notable bearers: Néstor Leguizamón (footballer). |
| Leguía | Basque-derived; toponymic | Peru; Spain | 6,000 people | Notable Peruvian surname; Augusto B. Leguía (1863–1932), President of Peru. Variant spellings occur. |
| Lerma | from town Lerma (Burgos/Spain) | Spain; Mexico | 18,000 people | Toponymic from Lerma; historical aristocratic uses. Notable bearers: Duke of Lerma (Spanish noble family). |
| Lerdo | from “lardo”/place; Mexican aristocracy | Spain; Mexico | 9,000 people | Uncommon surname; famous in Mexico (Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada, 1823–1889, president). Toponymic or family name. |
| Lescano | possibly Basque/Quechua-influenced | Peru; Argentina | 7,000 people | Common in Peru and northern Argentina; etymology debated. Notable bearers: Yonhy Lescano (1962), Peruvian politician. |
| Lesmes | medieval given name-surname | Spain; Colombia | 6,000 people | From medieval personal name Lesmes; seen in Spain and Latin America. Notable bearers: José Lesmes (athlete). |
| Liendo | Basque/Spanish toponymic | Spain; Venezuela, Mexico | 9,000 people | Toponymic surname with Basque links; present in Latin America. Notable bearer: Carlos Liendo (writer). |
| Lira | lyre (musical instrument) or place | Chile; Spain; Mexico | 60,000 people | Could derive from ‘lyre’ or place name. Common in Chile and Mexico. Notable bearers: Carolina Lira (politician). |
| Lomas | hills | Spain; Argentina, Mexico | 15,000 people | Toponymic plural of “loma” (hill). Found in Spain and the Americas. Notable bearers: Jorge Lomas (footballer). |
| Lozoya | from place Lozoya (Madrid area) | Spain; Mexico | 7,000 people | Toponymic surname from Lozoya valley near Madrid; present in Mexico by migration. Notable bearer: Emilio Lozoya (1980), Mexican economist/politician. |
| Lucena | from Lucena (Córdoba) | Spain; Latin America | 50,000 people | Toponymic from Lucena in Andalusia. Notable bearers: Lucena family (artists); Sergio Lucena (athlete). |
| Luengo | long, tall | Spain; Latin America | 8,000 people | From adjective “luengo” (old/long); Castilian origin. Notable bearer: Juan de Luengo (historical figure). |
| Luzón | from Luzón (place) or “big light” | Spain; Philippines | 6,000 people | Toponymic surname; also appears in the Philippines due to Spanish colonial naming. Notable bearers: Ramón Luzón (artist). |
| Lujambio | Basque toponymic | Basque Country; Mexico | 3,000 people | Basque-derived surname transmitted to Mexico. Notable bearer: Javier Lujambio (scholar). |
| Lupión | from town Lupión (Jaén) | Spain | 2,500 people | Toponymic surname from Lupión in Andalusia. Notable bearer: Antonio Lupión (mayor/politician). |
| Lirio | lily (flower) | Spain; Latin America | 3,000 people | Nickname or ornamental surname from “lirio” (lily). Occurs sparsely. Notable bearer: Marta Lirio (singer). |
| Larrondo | Basque toponymic | Basque Country; Argentina | 4,000 people | Basque-origin surname found in Spain and Argentina. Variants: Larrondo/Larrondo. Notable bearer: Julio Larrondo (writer). |
Descriptions
López
Luna
León
Lozano
Lara
Ledesma
Lucero
Lugo
Luque
Luján
Llorente
Llamas
Leal
Lebrón
Lázaro
Leiva
Leyva
Lazo
Linares
Lorenzo
Lorca
Larrea
Larraín
Lazcano
Lora
Lorente
Lafuente
Landeros
Landero
Landázuri
Laguna
Lamelas
Lamela
Lamadrid
Lamas
Landa
Lastra
Latorre
Lecuona
Lizárraga
Lizcano
Lillo
Lechuga
Leguizamo
Leguizamón
Leguía
Lerma
Lerdo
Lescano
Lesmes
Liendo
Lira
Lomas
Lozoya
Lucena
Luengo
Luzón
Lujambio
Lupión
Lirio
Larrondo