Vasquez Surname Meaning and Origin - About Genealogy

The Vasquez surname is the 23rd most common Hispanic surname. It has several possible origins: A name denoting one who came from the Basque country, from the words vasco, velasco and belasco, each suggesting a place or ethnicity in the Basque provinces of Spain.A patronymic surname meaning  son of Vasco. The given name Vasco  derives from the medieval Spanish name  Velasco,  which possibly meant crow in Basque.According to Elsdon Smith in American Surnames, the names Vasquez, Vazquez and Velez in Spain designate those who herded ewes or sheep. Surname Origin:  Spanish, Portuguese Alternate Surname Spellings:  Vasquiz, Vasques, Vazquez, Vazques, Belasco, De Belasco, De Velasco, Velazquez, Vaz Famous People With the Surname Vasquez La La Vasquez - American television personality and entertainerDomingo Và ¡squez - President of Honduras, 1893-1894Francisco  Và ¡zquez  de Coronado y Lujà ¡n - Spanish conquistador and explorer; discovered the Grand CanyonGregorio Vasquez - Colombian painter Most Commonly Found The first Vasquez families originated in the Castile region of Spain, according to  Forebears, which ranks Vasquez as the 424th most common surname in the world. The Vazquez spelling even more common, ranking 376th. Vasquez  is found most prevalently in Peru, where it ranks 13th in the nation, followed by Guatemala (15th), El Salvador (16th), Panama (22nd), Honduras (26th), and the Dominican Republic (29th). The Vazquez spelling is most frequent in Mexico, where it ranks 14th, followed by Puerto Rico (15th) and Argentina (19th).  Within Europe, Vasquez is actually found most frequently in southern France, according to  WorldNames PublicProfiler, while Vazques is most common in northern Spain, especially the Galicia and Asturias regions. Genealogy Resources 100 Most Common Spanish SurnamesHave you ever wondered about your Spanish last name  Ã‚  and how it came to be? This article describes common Spanish naming patterns, and explores the meaning and origins of 100 common Spanish surnames. How to Research Hispanic HeritageLearn how to get started researching  your Hispanic ancestors, including the basics of family tree research and country specific organizations, genealogical records, and resources for Spain, Latin America, Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean, and other Spanish speaking countries. Vasquez Family Crest - Its Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Vasquez family crest or coat of arms for the Vasquez surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.   Vasquez Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Vasquez surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Vasquez query. FamilySearch - Vasquez GenealogyAccess over 3.8 million free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Vasquez surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Vasquez Surname Family Mailing ListsThis free mailing list for researchers of the Vasquez surname and its variations includes subscription details and a searchable archives of past messages. DistantCousin.com - Vasquez Genealogy Family HistoryExplore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Vasquez. The Vasquez Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse family trees and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the last name Vasquez from the website of Genealogy Today. ----------------------- References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.