Delgadillo
A Spanish surname meaning “little Delgado,” ultimately based on a nickname for someone slim, delicate, or slight.
The #2,399 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 20,416 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Delgadillo is a diminutive form of Delgado. In Spanish, delgado means “thin,” “slender,” or more loosely “delicate,” so the surname originally pointed to someone with a slight build or a similarly “delicate” character. The ending -illo adds a sense of smallness or endearment, giving the sense of “little Delgado” or “young Delgado.”
History
The name is found in Spanish-language records by the early 16th century, showing that it was already established as a family name in Iberia. It later spread throughout the Spanish-speaking world through migration and colonial-era settlement. Modern bearers are especially common in Latin American communities and in the United States.
Origin
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Fun fact
Because it is a diminutive, Delgadillo is one of those surnames that literally began as a nickname with a built-in “small” or affectionate nuance.
From the historical record
“cion boreal. Delgadillo. Diminutivo de Delgado. Delgado. Delicado, sutil, flaco. Delicado. Suave, blando, tierno.”
— Diccionario de los apellidos