The López surname is very common in Spain (it is among the five most frequent), and in Latin American countries. In fact, surely if you stop to think, you know more than one person who has it in their name as their first or second surname. There are several theories that circulate about the origin of this surname, however, one of them is given more truth than the others: it is the theory that explains that the surname López began to be used in ancient Rome during the stage of the Roman domination.
But regardless of the origin that is taken into account, what is clear is that its meaning does not change. From oneHOWTO, we reveal the meaning and origin of the López surname so that you know where it comes from and how it has been defined throughout history.
The origin of the surname Lopez
As we have previously commented, there are several theories about the origin of the López surname. The one that sounds the strongest and is believed to be true is the one that links the beginning of its use with the stage of Roman domination.
It all started with the arrival of the family called Lupos, of patrician origin and from Queen Lupa or Loba, who lived in Galicia. It was precisely in this region where it is believed that the oldest known branch of the origin of the López surname originated and that, later, it spread to Andalusia and the rest of the Iberian Peninsula. However, to have the first documented proof of the existence of the López surname, we must wait until the date of the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa , which took place in the year 1212. In this battle (represented in the image below) and in others, such as the battle of Salado, the first knights and citizens are known by the surname López to appear.
And, how did this surname come to Latin America? The expansion of the López surname was made, above all, through wars and the conquest of several Latin American territories by Spain.
In history, there are recorded some such famous López as the knight Jerónimo López, distinguished by Carlos I with the Commandery of Tacuba, and named first alderman and, later, Secretary of the Interior. In fact, it is believed that this gentleman was the origin of the López surname in Mexico.
Meaning of the surname Lopez
The meaning of the López surname is clearer because there is no record of different meanings depending on its origin. And it is that this surname is patronymic; that is, it designates ancestry, filiation, or lineage. In this case, the surname derives from the given name Lope, to which is added the ending “EZ” widely used in the ancient Kingdom of Castile to indicate ” son of “.
This is considered to be the only meaning of the López surname both in Spain and in Latin America where, as we have said, it appeared later.
The coat of arms of the López surname
The López surname, being patronymic, does not have a unique coat of arms. In fact, neither do those used today come from a common origin and it is common, therefore, that different shields can be found that are used by people surnamed López.
However, there are people who technically should not use any of the possible shields that are attributed to this surname, since to know if it is appropriate to use one shield or another, it is necessary to carry out a genealogical study.
In any case, it is generally considered that the coat of arms of the López surname is formed by a field of gules (bright red) with thirteen gold bezants that evoke the ancient Byzantine gold coins, known as bezants. There is also evidence of other variations that incorporate elements added by different families:
- Wolf: this animal appears on some coats of arms because Lope is linked to Lupus, which is Latin for wolf. For example, it appears on the coat of arms of those of Guipúzcoa, in which there is a gold coat of arms with a wolf with a saber and sole gules. Also in Asturias, the wolf is used with a saber lined with a silver coat of arms.
- León: this animal is the one that appears on the shield of the Valencian López. In this case, it is divided into two parts, making this division with a saber band. On each side is the lion.
- Purple tower: this element appears in the coat of arms of the Aragón family. It is situated on a field of gold and, around the coat of arms, there are silver borders with eight shields of azure and a gold stripe placed diagonally.
With these explanations about the meaning and origin of the López surname, at OneHOWTO we hope to have helped you learn more about this common surname. If you found this information interesting, you may want to take a look at the following article:
If you want to read more articles similar to the Meaning and origin of the López surname, we recommend that you enter our Training category.