Figueroa Surname Meaning and Origin

The Spanish surname Figueroa is a habitational name from any one of several small towns in Galicia, Spain named from a derivative of figueira, meaning "fig tree."

Figueroa is the 59th most common Spanish surname.

Alternate Surname Spellings: Figuero, Figuera, Figarola, Higueras, Higuero, Higueroa, De Figueroa, Figueres

Surname Origin: Spanish

Where to Find People With the Figueroa Surname

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GUERRERO Surname Meaning and Origin

By Kimberly Powell

While the Figueroa surname originated in Galicia near the border of Spain and Portugal, according to Forebears it is no longer as prevalent in that region as it is in many other Spanish-speaking countries. The Figueroa last name ranks 18th in Puerto Rico, 38th in Chile, 47th in Guatemala, 56th in El Salvador, 64th in Argentina, 68th in Honduras, 99th in Venezuela, 105th in Peru, and 111th in Mexico. Within Spain, Figueroa is still most prevalent in Galicia, according to WorldNames PublicProfiler. In the U.S., the Figueroa surname is found in the greatest numbers in the states of Florida, Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico, and New York.

Famous People Named Figueroa

• Francisco de Figueroa: 16th-century Spanish poet
• Pedro José Figueroa: Colombian portrait painter
• Cole Figueroa: MLB 2nd baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates
• Pedro de Castro y Figueroa: Spanish viceroy of New Spain
• José Figueroa Alcorta: President of Argentina, 1906 to 1910
• Francisco Acuña de Figueroa: Uruguayan poet and writer
• Fernando Figueroa: President of El Salvador, 1907 to 1911

Genealogy Resources

Have you ever wondered about your Spanish last name and how it came to be? Understand common Spanish naming patterns and explore the meaning and origins of 100 common Spanish surnames.

Learn 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.

Contrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a family crest or coat of arms for the Figueroa 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. 

The Figueroa Family Project seeks to find common heritage through sharing of information and DNA testing. Any variant spellings of the Figueroa surname are welcome to participate.

Visit a free message board focused on the descendants of Figueroa ancestors around the world. Search past queries, or post a question of your own.

Browse family trees and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the last name Figueroa on a genealogy website.

Sources

• Cottle, Basil. "Penguin Dictionary of Surnames." Penguin Reference Books, Paperback, 2nd edition, Puffin, 7 August 1984.
• Dorward, David. "Scottish Surnames." Paperback, 1st Edition Thus edition, Mercat Pr, 1 October 2003.
• "Figueroa." Forebears 2012-2020, https://forebears.io/surnames?q=Figueroa.
• "Figueroa." Genealogy, 2020, https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/figueroa/.
• Fucilla, Joseph Guerin. "Our Italian Surnames." Genealogical Publishing Company, 1 January 1998.
• Hanks, Patrick. "A Dictionary of Surnames." Flavia Hodges, Oxford University Press, 23 February 1989.
• Hanks, Patrick. "Dictionary of American Family Names." 1st Edition, Oxford University Press, 8 May 2003.
• "Home." Public Profiler, 2010, http://worldnames.publicprofiler.org/.
• Reaney, P.H. "A Dictionary of English Surnames." Hardcover, R. M. Wilson, 3rd edition, Routledge, 10 October 1991.
• Smith, Elsdon Coles. "American Surnames." 1st Edition, Chilton Book Co, 1 June 1969.
• "The Figueroa Genealogy and Family Tree Page." Genealogy Today, 2020, https://www.genealogytoday.com/surname/finder.mv?Surname=Figueroa.