Castaño
A Spanish surname often referring to a chestnut tree, chestnut-colored hair, or a place named for chestnut trees.
The #5,660 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 50,342 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Castaño is a Spanish surname built on the word castaño, meaning "chestnut". The term can point to the chestnut tree itself, to the tree’s brown color, or to a place marked by chestnut trees. As with many Spanish surnames, it could have begun either as a topographic name for someone living near chestnut trees or as a descriptive nickname for someone with chestnut-colored hair or complexion.
History
The surname is found in Spain and spread widely through the Spanish-speaking world, especially during the colonial period. In some families it may also reflect toponymic origins from places named Castaño or similar forms. English-language records often simplify the spelling to Castano by dropping the tilde.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Spanish castaño is also the usual word for the chestnut color, so the surname can carry both a tree and a color association.