Gonzalez: Name Meaning and Origin

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By
Kimberly Powell
Kimberly Powell
Genealogy Expert
  • Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University
  • B.A., Carnegie Mellon University
Kimberly Powell is a professional genealogist and the author of The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy. She teaches at the Genealogical Institute of Pittsburgh and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy.
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Updated on February 09, 2019

Gonzalez is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Gonzalo." The given name Gonzalo comes from the medieval name Gundisalvus, which was the Latin form of a Germanic name composed of the elements gund, meaning "war" or "battle" and salv which is of unknown meaning.

Gonzalez is the 21st most popular surname in America, according to the 2000 census. The Gonzalez surname is also common in Mexico—the 5th most common, according to 2006 electoral rolls.

Origin: Spanish

Alternate Spellings: Gonzales, Conzalaz, Gonzalas, Gonsalas, Goncalez, Gonsales, Goncales

Origins

WorldNames PublicProfiler places the majority of the individuals named Gonzalez in Spain, especially the regions of Asturias, Islas Canarias, Castilla Y Leon, Cantabria, and Galicia. Gonzalez is the most popular surname in a number of countries according to data from Forebears, including Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Panama. It also ranks second in the nations of Spain, Venezuela, and Uraguay, and third in Cuba.

Famous People

  • Tony Gonzalez: professional American football player
  • Jaslene Gonzalez: winner of America's Next Top Model
  • Emiliano Gonzalez Navero (1861-1934): former president of Paraguay
  • Felipe Gonzalez: former prime minister of Spain
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Powell, Kimberly. "Gonzalez: Name Meaning and Origin." ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/gonzalez-surname-meaning-and-origin-1422514. Powell, Kimberly. (2020, August 28). Gonzalez: Name Meaning and Origin. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/gonzalez-surname-meaning-and-origin-1422514 Powell, Kimberly. "Gonzalez: Name Meaning and Origin." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/gonzalez-surname-meaning-and-origin-1422514 (accessed May 29, 2023).