Alatorre
A Spanish surname most likely meaning “from the tower” or “at the tower.”
The #7,031 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 64,876 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Alatorre is a Spanish surname built from the preposition al, meaning “to the” or “at the,” and torre, “tower,” from Latin turris. The name would originally have referred to someone who lived by, worked at, or came from a notable tower or fortified place. In some cases it may also reflect a place-name containing the same elements.
History
The surname is found in Spanish-speaking regions and later in the Americas, especially through colonial-era migration and later movement within Mexico and the southwestern United States. Because it is built from a common Spanish place-description, it likely arose independently in more than one locality. Modern bearers are often concentrated in Mexican and Mexican-American communities.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same root torre appears in many Spanish place-names and surnames, so Alatorre fits a very common Iberian naming pattern based on landmarks.