This list includes 39 Spanish last names that start with O, from “Obregón” to “Oñate”. These surnames include widespread modern names and regional or historical family names. You can use this list for genealogy, character naming, school projects, or cultural research.
Spanish last names that start with O are family names found in Spain and across Latin America. They often reflect occupations, places, or ancestral personal names, as with “Obregón,” known from Mexican president Álvaro Obregón.
Below you’ll find the table with Surname, Meaning / Origin, and Notable people.
Surname: This column shows the last name exactly as written, so you can scan and locate specific names quickly.
Meaning / Origin: You get a concise origin or translation to understand linguistic roots and geographic associations of each surname.
Notable people: Short examples of one or two notable individuals give context and help you recognize familiar bearers of the name.
Spanish last names that start with O
| Surname | Variant/Alternative spellings | Meaning | Region/Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ortega | de Ortega | Dweller by the steppes; from “ortega” (heather) | Castile, widespread |
| Ortiz | Orti (historic) | Son of Orio/Orteo (patronymic) | Castile, Spain; widespread |
| Ochoa | Otxoa (Basque) | Basque for “wolf” | Basque Country, Navarra |
| Orozco | Orozko (place) | Place of thorns / from Orozko | Basque Country, later Castile |
| Osorio | de Osorio | From Latin “os” (bone) or toponymic | Castile, León |
| Olivares | Olivares (plural) | Olive groves | Andalusia, Castile |
| Oliva | Oliva (singular) | Olive tree | Mediterranean Spain |
| Ocampo | de Ocampo | From the field (Galician “o campo”) | Galicia, Spain; Latin America |
| Obregón | Obregon (no accent) | From “obrego” (pasture) or toponym | Cantabria/León |
| Otero | de Otero | High place; hilltop (from “otero”) | Castile, Galicia |
| Olmedo | de Olmedo | Place of elms (from “olmo”) | Castile, Spain; used in Latin America |
| Ocaña | Ocana | From the town of Ocaña; toponymic | Castile‑La Mancha |
| Ordóñez | Ordoñez, Ordoñez | Son/descendant of Ordoño (patronymic) | Castile, Asturias |
| Osuna | de Osuna | From Osuna (town) | Andalusia, Spain |
| Orellana | Orelana | From place name; possibly “elm plain” | Extremadura, Spain; Latin America |
| Olazábal | Olazabal | Basque: place of the grove | Basque Country |
| Oñate | Onate | Possibly “frontier settlement” | Basque Country, Navarra |
| Oribe | Uribe (related Basque form) | Basque toponym/stream | Basque origin; used in Latin America |
| Oyarzábal | Oyarzabal | Basque: place near valley | Basque Country |
| Olaizola | Olaizola | Basque: “place of play” variant | Basque Country |
| Olmos | del Olmo, Olmo | From “olmo” (elm tree) | Castile, Andalusia |
| Ontiveros | Ontiveros | Place of holm-oaks (“onti-“) | Spain; common in Mexico |
| Ossa | Oza, Ossa (Chilean) | Unclear, possibly Basque/Visigothic | Spain, strong presence in Chile |
| Ordaz | Ordaz | Possibly from “ordon” (watch) or place | Basque/Castile |
| Oca | Oca (short) | Duck; also toponymic | Northern Spain, Galicia |
| Oña | de Oña | From the village of Oña | Burgos, Castile and León |
| Olarte | Olarte | Basque: place of the forge or field | Basque Country, Navarra |
| Orbea | Orbea | Basque toponym; “place of yews” | Basque Country |
| Orrego | Orrego | Basque-origin toponymic | Basque Country; Chile, Peru |
| Orive | Orive | Basque toponymic, “by the oak” | Basque Country |
| Ochotorena | Ochotorena | Basque: place name (eight thorns) | Basque Country |
| Ospina | Ospina | Possibly from “ospina” (place name) | Colombia, Spain |
| Olarra | Olarra | Basque: place name | Basque Country |
| Oliván | Olivan, Oliván | From “oliva” (olive); patronymic | Aragón, Spain |
| Osés | Oses, Osés | Possibly “bone” or toponymic | Navarra, Basque Country |
| Oleaga | Oleaga | Basque: place-related name | Basque Country |
| Ocañeda | Ocaneda | Diminutive/toponym of Ocaña | Castile |
| Olivencia | Olivencia | From “oliva” (olive) family name | Andalusia, Canary Islands |
| Oroz | Oroz (short) | Basque root, “nettle” or place | Basque Country |
Descriptions
Ortega
Common Spanish surname; broad distribution in Spain and Latin America. Notable: José Ortega y Gasset (1883–1955), philosopher; Jorge Ortega (b. 1994), footballer.
Ortiz
Very common patronymic surname. Frequent across Hispanic world. Notable: Carlos Ortiz (1936–2022), Puerto Rican boxer; Rita Ortiz, public figures.
Ochoa
Common Basque-origin surname, widespread in Spain and Latin America. Notable: Guillermo Ochoa (b. 1985), Mexican goalkeeper; Antonio Ochoa, various artists.
Orozco
Frequent, originally Basque toponymic. Prominent in Mexico. Notable: José Clemente Orozco (1883–1949), Mexican muralist.
Osorio
Traditional Castilian surname, common in Spain and Latin America. Notable: José Osorio (various); Antonio Osorio, regional figures.
Olivares
Historic noble name; common in Spain and former colonies. Notable: Gaspar de Guzmán, Count‑Duke of Olivares (1587–1645), statesman.
Oliva
Used across Spain; related to olive cultivation. Frequency: common-to-moderate. Notable: María Oliva (various), regional figures.
Ocampo
Toponymic surname common in Spanish America. Notable: Felisa Ocampo, writers; (Manuel Ocampo, b. 1965), Filipino artist with Hispanic surname.
Obregón
Uncommon to moderately common; notable in Mexico. Notable: Álvaro Obregón (1880–1928), Mexican president.
Otero
Common toponymic surname in Spain and Latin America. Frequency: common. Notable: Leopoldo Otero (various); María Otero, public figures.
Olmedo
Moderately common; notable in literature and politics. Notable: José Joaquín de Olmedo (1780–1847), Ecuadorian poet and statesman.
Ocaña
Used as a surname though toponymic; moderate frequency. Notable: Manuel Ocaña (politician), artists.
Ordóñez
Historic patronymic found in Spain and Latin America. Frequency: uncommon-to-moderate. Notable: Antonio Ordóñez (1932–1998), bullfighter.
Osuna
Toponymic surname tied to a ducal house; moderate frequency. Notable: Pedro Téllez‑Girón, Duke of Osuna (historical noble).
Orellana
Famous from exploration era; moderate frequency. Notable: Francisco de Orellana (1511–1546), explorer of the Amazon.
Olazábal
Basque surname; regional frequency. Notable: José María Olazábal (b. 1966), Spanish golfer.
Oñate
Basque noble and conquistador family; regional. Notable: Juan de Oñate (1550–1626), colonizer of New Mexico.
Oribe
Uncommon in Spain; notable in Latin America. Notable: Manuel Oribe (1792–1857), Uruguayan president.
Oyarzábal
Regional Basque surname, increasingly visible. Notable: Mikel Oyarzabal (b. 1997), Spanish footballer.
Olaizola
Regional Basque surname; known in pelota sports. Notable: Aimar Olaizola (b. 1979), pelotari.
Olmos
Moderate frequency; toponymic or descriptive. Notable: Felipe Olmos, cultural figures.
Ontiveros
Regional-to-moderate frequency, common in Mexico. Notable: José Ontiveros (athlete), local politicians.
Ossa
Moderate in Chile and Colombia. Notable: Eduardo Ossa (various), Chilean families.
Ordaz
Uncommon; recorded in Spain and Latin America. Notable: Diego Ordaz (various), regional leaders.
Oca
Rare surname; short toponymic or descriptive origin. Frequency: uncommon.
Oña
Toponymic surname used regionally since medieval times. Frequency: uncommon. Notable: historical local figures.
Olarte
Regional Basque surname; moderate in Navarre. Notable: Martín Olarte, cultural figures.
Orbea
Uncommon Basque surname; also a bicycle marque (family name). Notable: Family entrepreneurs, regional figures.
Orrego
Common in Chile and Peru; moderate frequency. Notable: Pedro Aguirre Cerda? (related families); regional politicians.
Orive
Uncommon; seen in northern Spain and Mexico. Frequency: uncommon.
Ochotorena
Rare Basque surname; used in Spain’s football history. Notable: José Manuel Ochotorena (b. 1961), Spanish goalkeeper.
Ospina
Common in Colombia and parts of Latin America. Notable: David Ospina (b. 1988), Colombian goalkeeper.
Olarra
Regional surname; uncommon outside Basque areas. Notable: local figures in northeastern Spain.
Oliván
Uncommon to moderate, regional in Aragón. Notable: Javier Oliván (b. 1977), tech executive (Spain).
Osés
Regional Basque/Navarre surname; uncommon nationally. Notable: Ana Osés, cultural figures.
Oleaga
Rare regional surname; Basque origin. Notable: regional personalities.
Ocañeda
Uncommon; derivative of Ocaña, used regionally. Frequency: uncommon.
Olivencia
Moderate in certain regions; often Sephardic/Andalusian roots. Notable: José Olivencia, jurists.
Oroz
Rare surname, variant or root of Orozco. Frequency: uncommon.