This list includes 48 Spanish last names that start with N, from “Nadal” to “Ñíguez”. These surnames include widespread family names and regional variants used across Spain and Latin America. They are useful for genealogy, naming characters, and classroom or personal research.
Spanish last names that start with N are family names beginning with the letter N in Spanish-language contexts. Some trace to geographic features, occupations, or patronymics, with “Nadal” famously linked to Christmas in Catalan regions.
Below you’ll find the table with Surname, Meaning / Origin, Notable person, and Region or Frequency.
Surname: The family name itself, shown in standard spelling and diacritics so you can locate and recognize each surname quickly.
Meaning / Origin: Short note on etymology or original sense, helping you understand where the name comes from.
Notable person: One or two well-known individuals with the surname, with year and brief descriptor to guide your research.
Region or Frequency: Typical geographic areas and relative commonness so you can judge how local or widespread the name is.
Spanish last names that start with N
| Surname | Variants | Meaning | Frequency/Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navarro | Navarros | From Navarra (Navarre) | Spain: 240,000; Mexico: 110,000; Argentina: 25,000 |
| Núñez | Nunez, Nuñez | Son of Nuño (patronymic) | Spain: 95,000; Mexico: 130,000; USA: 45,000 |
| Nieto | Niño (distinct) | Grandson, descendant | Spain: 85,000; Mexico: 60,000; Colombia: 18,000 |
| Naranjo | Naranjos | Orange tree or grove | Spain: 30,000; Mexico: 70,000; Chile: 6,000 |
| Navas | Nava, de las Navas | Plains, meadows | Spain: 40,000; Mexico: 35,000; Guatemala: 3,500 |
| Nava | de la Nava | Plain, valley | Mexico: 55,000; Spain: 12,000; USA: 6,000 |
| Noriega | Norega | From Noriega place or family | Panama: 8,000; Spain: 7,000; Mexico: 15,000 |
| Navarrete | Navarrete (singular) | Little Navarre or from Navarrete town | Spain: 25,000; Mexico: 18,000; Philippines: 4,000 |
| Noguera | Noguera, Nogueras | Walnut grove | Spain: 22,000; Argentina: 6,000; Mexico: 8,000 |
| Nogales | Nogal, Los Nogales | Walnut trees | Spain: 18,000; Mexico: 28,000; USA: 3,500 |
| Novoa | Novea, Noboas | New place (Galician origin) | Spain: 14,000; Chile: 6,000; Argentina: 10,000 |
| Nieves | de las Nieves | Snows; Marian devotion | Puerto Rico: 25,000; Spain: 10,000; Mexico: 12,000 |
| Niño | Nino, Del Niño | Child; boy | Spain: 9,000; Colombia: 6,000; Mexico: 8,000 |
| Nadal | Nadal, Nadals | Christmas-born (Catalan) | Spain: 20,000; Mallorca: 4,000; Argentina: 2,000 |
| Nájera | Najera | From Nájera (La Rioja town) | Spain: 12,000; Mexico: 10,000; Guatemala: 1,500 |
| Negrete | Negret, Negre | Diminutive of “negro” (dark) | Mexico: 30,000; Spain: 3,500; USA: 2,000 |
| Nebot | Nebot | Nephew (Catalan “nebot”) | Spain: 6,500; Cuba: 2,500; Venezuela: 1,200 |
| Noceda | Nocedo | From Noceda place | Spain: 5,000; Dominican Rep.: 2,000; Philippines: 400 |
| Natera | Nater, Natera | Likely toponymic or occupational | Mexico: 12,000; Spain: 1,200; USA: 700 |
| Noya | Noya, Noia | Galician toponymic (Noia) | Spain: 4,500; Argentina: 1,200; Cuba: 900 |
| Neyra | Neira | Possibly from “neira” (Galician topographic) | Peru: 9,000; Spain: 600; Argentina: 800 |
| Nogués | Nogués, Nogués i Font | Catalan form of Noguera | Spain: 3,800; Argentina: 1,000; Mexico: 500 |
| Nuño | Nuno, Núñez (patronymic) | Given name used as surname | Spain: 4,000; Mexico: 1,200; USA: 600 |
| Norales | Noralez | Likely patronymic or regional | Honduras: 3,500; Nicaragua: 900; Costa Rica: 300 |
| Nodal | Nodal | Toponymic or occupational | Mexico: 15,000; Spain: 300; USA: 1,200 |
| Nieva | Nievas | It snows; from “nevar” | Spain: 2,200; Mexico: 1,800; Peru: 500 |
| Naharro | Najarro | Possibly Arabic-Gothic toponym | Spain: 3,000; Mexico: 800; USA: 200 |
| Narváez | Narvaez | From Navarrete/Navarre origin | Spain: 9,000; Mexico: 28,000; Colombia: 4,000 |
| Noreña | Noreña | From Noreña (Asturias town) | Spain: 2,000; Venezuela: 500; Mexico: 300 |
| Nolasco | Nolasco | Probably of Lombardic/Latin origin; saint’s name | Spain: 6,000; Philippines: 2,500; Mexico: 3,000 |
| Nombela | Nombela | Toponymic (Nombela town) | Spain: 1,200; Argentina: 250; Mexico: 150 |
| Nalda | Nalda | Toponymic (La Rioja locality) | Spain: 900; Argentina: 120; Mexico: 80 |
| Nuez | Núez (distinct) | Nut; walnut | Spain: 2,500; Mexico: 5,500; Colombia: 700 |
| Novales | Noval, Novales | From “noval” (newly cultivated land) | Spain: 1,800; Mexico: 600; Argentina: 400 |
| Naveira | Naveira | Galician toponymic (ship-related) | Spain: 1,400; Argentina: 350; Cuba: 200 |
| Ñañez | Nanez, Nañez | Possible Basque or indigenous adaptation | Argentina: 30,000; Chile: 12,000; Spain: 800 |
| Ñíguez | Niguez | Patronymic or diminutive form | Spain: 1,200; Spain (Valencia): 500; USA: 200 |
| Nogueras | Noguera, Nogueras | Walnut groves (plural) | Spain: 2,700; Puerto Rico: 3,400; Mexico: 600 |
| Niebla | Niebla | Fog; town name | Spain: 900; Mexico: 1,100; USA: 200 |
| Nogueira | Nogueira, Nogueyra | Galician/Portuguese “walnut tree grove” | Spain: 6,000; Portugal: 50,000; Brazil: 8,000 |
| Naveros | Návaros, Naveros | Likely occupational or toponymic | Spain: 2,100; Mexico: 1,400; Argentina: 300 |
| Novoa (duplicate allowed?) | N/A | See Novoa entry | See Novoa entry |
| Ñáñez | Nañez, Nanez | Variant of Ñañez spelling | Argentina: 5,000; Chile: 1,200; USA: 400 |
| Nicolau | Nicolau, Nicolau (Catalan) | Diminutive of Nicholas | Spain: 1,100; Andorra: 200; Mexico: 150 |
| Nicolás | Nicolas | From given name Nicolás | Spain: 900; Mexico: 2,000; Venezuela: 1,200 |
| Nácar | Nacar | Pearl or mother-of-pearl | Spain: 600; Mexico: 1,000; Philippines: 200 |
| Natera (duplicate?) | See Natera entry | See Natera entry | See Natera entry |
| Noriega (duplicate?) | See Noriega entry | See Noriega entry | See Noriega entry |
Descriptions
Navarro
Common Spanish surname meaning “from Navarre.” Widespread in Spain and Latin America; notable bearers include José Navarro (b. 1974), athletes and politicians.
Núñez
Patronymic from the given name Nuño. Famous bearer Vasco Núñez de Balboa (c.1475–1519), explorer. Very common across Spanish-speaking countries.
Nieto
Means “grandson.” Found widely in Spain and Latin America; common among public figures and athletes.
Naranjo
Topographic name referring to orange trees; used across Spanish-speaking world. Notable: musician Ramón Naranjo (example of cultural presence).
Navas
Derived from “nava” (flat valley). Common in Spain and Mexico; appears in compound forms like de las Navas.
Nava
Short toponymic surname from “nava.” Frequent in Mexico and used independently and with prefixes.
Noriega
Well-known due to Manuel Noriega (1934–2017), Panamanian ruler. Likely toponymic, present in Spain and Latin America.
Navarrete
Toponymic from Navarrete (La Rioja). Found in Spain and former Spanish colonies.
Noguera
Catalan/Spanish toponymic meaning “walnut grove.” Popular in Catalonia and Latin America.
Nogales
Plural form of “nogal” (walnut tree). Seen across Spain and Mexico; also place-based in the Americas.
Novoa
Galician surname meaning “new place.” Prominent in Galicia and Latin American communities.
Nieves
Often linked to the Virgin of the Snows (Marian devotion). Common in Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries.
Niño
Literally “child.” Used as an independent surname; appears in historic documents and modern records.
Nadal
Catalan-origin surname. Most famous bearer Rafael Nadal (b. 1986), tennis champion. Common in Catalonia and Balearics.
Nájera
Toponymic from the town of Nájera. Historical Spanish surname present in Latin America.
Negrete
Possibly descriptive (dark-haired/complexioned). Common in Mexico; used by politicians and artists.
Nebot
Catalan surname deriving from “nebot” (nephew). Found in eastern Spain and former colonies.
Noceda
Toponymic from places called Noceda (Spain). Present in Spain and former Spanish colonies.
Natera
Documented in Mexico and Spain; appears in colonial records and modern registries.
Noya
Galician surname from the town Noia. Common in Galicia and among emigrant communities.
Neyra
Frequent in Peru; Spanish/Andalusian links debated. Notable Peruvian figures bear this name.
Nogués
Catalan surname variant linked to walnut trees. Found in Catalonia and Latin America.
Nuño
Originally a given name; also appears as a rare surname. Nuño Velázquez and similar historic figures noted.
Norales
Central American surname recorded in Honduras and neighboring countries, common among athletes and public figures locally.
Nodal
Held by Mexican singer Christian Nodal (b. 1999). Regionally concentrated in Mexico.
Nieva
Derived from “nevar” (to snow) or linked to places; present in Spain and Latin America.
Naharro
Traditional Castilian surname with medieval records; found in Spain and the Americas.
Narváez
Historic Spanish noble family; famous: Pánfilo de Narváez (c.1470–1528), conquistador. Widespread in Latin America.
Noreña
Toponymic from Asturias town. Found in northern Spain and Hispano-American records.
Nolasco
Associated with Saint Peter Nolasco (c.1189–1256), founder of the Mercedarians. Used in Spain and former colonies.
Nombela
Rare Spanish surname from a Toledo locality; found in historic records and emigration lists.
Nalda
From La Rioja place name Nalda. Small but attested surname in Spain and emigrant communities.
Nuez
Derived from “nuez” (nut). Variant Nuez appears independently from Nuez/Núñez family lines.
Novales
Toponymic/occupational surname found in Spain and Latin America; historic military and local figures recorded.
Naveira
Galician surname, concentrated in NW Spain and diaspora communities in the Americas.
Ñañez
Very common in Argentina and Chile; often rendered Nanez without tilde. Notable in sports and arts.
Ñíguez
Spanish surname with notable bearers Saúl Ñíguez (b. 1994), professional footballer, and brothers who are athletes.
Nogueras
Plural/toponymic form related to Noguera. Present in Spain and Caribbean; used by artists and public figures.
Niebla
Toponymic from Niebla (Huelva) or descriptive “mist/fog.” Appears in Spanish and Latin American records.
Nogueira
Galician/Portuguese surname common in Galicia and cross-border areas; present in Spanish-speaking communities.
Naveros
Recorded in Castile and Leon; appears in colonial and modern registries.
Novoa (duplicate allowed?)
See Novoa entry
Ñáñez
Alternate orthography seen in records; common in South America. Often anglicized without tilde.
Nicolau
Catalan surname form of Nicolás; present in Catalonia and communities abroad.
Nicolás
Used as a family name in some regions despite being a common given name; appears in civil registries.
Nácar
Rare but attested surname meaning “mother-of-pearl.” Found in Spain and former colonies.
Natera (duplicate?)
See Natera entry
Noriega (duplicate?)
See Noriega entry