MALDONADO Surname Meaning and Origin

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Maldonado is a nickname used to indicate an individual who was ugly or ignorant, from the Spanish mal donado meaning "ill favored," from mal, meaning "badly," plus donado, meaning "given, endowed."

Maldonado was also sometimes a habitational surname, indicating someone who came "from Maldonado," a village in the province of Albacete, Spain.

Maldonado is the 51st most common Hispanic surname.

Surname OriginSpanish, Portuguese

Alternate Surname Spellings: de Maldonado, Maldanado, de Maldanado, Maledanado, de Maledanado, Maldolado, Moldonado, Baldonado, Montano, Valdonado, Valdonao, Maldonao

Where Do People With the MALDONADO Surname Live?

According to WorldNames PublicProfiler the majority of individuals with the Maldonado surname live in Argentina, followed by concentrations in Spain, the United States, France, and Switzerland. Forebears includes surname distribution data from many additional countries, and it identifies Maldonado as most prevalent in Mexico and most common in Puerto Rico, where it ranks 23rd in the nation. The Maldanado variant is most common in the United States.

Famous People

  • Pastor Rafael Maldonado - Venezuelan Formula One driver
  • Abel Maldonado – American politician, 48th Lieutenant Governor of California
  • Candido "Candy" Maldonado – former American Major League Baseball outfielder
  • José Maldonado - Puerto Rican revolutionary
  • Diego Maldonado - captain under Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto

Genealogy Resources

The following articles contain additional useful information:

100 Common Hispanic Surnames & Their Meanings
Garcia, Martinez, Rodriguez, Lopez, Hernandez... Are you one of the millions of people sporting one of these top 100 common Hispanic last names?

How to Research Hispanic Heritage
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.

Maldonado Family Crest - It's Not What You Think
Contrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Maldonado family crest or coat of arms for the Maldonado 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. 

Family Tree DNA: Maldonado Family DNA Project
This ancestral DNA testing project aims to determine which Maldonado lines are connected and the ethnic origin of these lines.

Maldonado Family Genealogy Forum
Search this popular genealogy forum for the Maldonado surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Maldonado query.

FamilySearch - Maldonado Genealogy
Access over 1.2 million free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Maldonado surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

GeneaNet - Maldonado Records
GeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Maldonado surname, with a concentration on records and families from France, Spain, and other European countries.

Maldonado Surname & Family Mailing Lists
This free mailing list for researchers of the Maldonado surname and its variations includes subscription details and a searchable archives of past messages.

DistantCousin.com - Maldonado Genealogy & Family History
Explore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Maldonado.

The Maldonado Genealogy and Family Tree Page
Browse family trees and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the last name Maldonado from the website of Genealogy Today.

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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.

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Powell, Kimberly. "MALDONADO Surname Meaning and Origin." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/maldonado-last-name-meaning-and-origin-1422552. Powell, Kimberly. (2020, August 27). MALDONADO Surname Meaning and Origin. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/maldonado-last-name-meaning-and-origin-1422552 Powell, Kimberly. "MALDONADO Surname Meaning and Origin." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/maldonado-last-name-meaning-and-origin-1422552 (accessed March 28, 2024).