Vasquez: Surname Meaning and Origin

The Vasquez surname is the 23rd most common Hispanic surname. It has several possible origins:

1. 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.
2. A patronymic surname meaning "son of Vasco." The given name Vasco derives from the medieval Spanish name Velasco, which possibly meant "crow" in Basque.
3. 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 entertainer
• Domingo Vásquez - President of Honduras, 1893-1894
• Francisco Vázquez de Coronado y Luján - Spanish conquistador and explorer; discovered the Grand Canyon
• Gregorio 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.

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Genealogy Resources

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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.

Vasquez Family Crest - It's Not What You Think
Contrary 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 Forum
Search 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 Genealogy
Access 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 Lists
This 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 History
Explore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Vasquez.

The Vasquez Genealogy and Family Tree Page
Browse family trees and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the last name Vasquez 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.