Águila
A surname meaning “eagle,” usually from Spanish or related Romance naming traditions.
The #5,683 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 50,589 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Aguila is ultimately from Spanish águila, meaning “eagle,” from Latin aquila. As a surname, it likely began as a nickname or descriptive byname for someone thought to resemble an eagle in appearance, character, or heraldic association. In some cases it may also reflect a house sign, place name, or adoption from a local emblem featuring an eagle.
History
The surname is found in Spanish-speaking communities and in places influenced by Spanish naming customs, including the Americas and the Philippines. It may also appear in forms without the accent, especially in records and migration documents. Because surnames of this type often arose independently in more than one place, not every family named Aguila shares the same origin.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The eagle was a powerful symbol in Spanish heraldry and state imagery, which helped make eagle-based surnames and place names especially common in Romance-speaking areas.