De los Reyes
A Spanish surname meaning “of the kings,” originally referring to someone connected with the Feast of the Three Kings or a place/devotional name using that phrase.
The #6,540 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 59,638 Americans shares it.
Etymology
De los Reyes is a Spanish surname built from the preposition de “of” plus los Reyes “the kings” or “the Three Kings.” In surname use, it is usually understood as a devotional or religious name, likely linked to the Epiphany feast of the Magi, though some families may also have taken it from a place name. The literal sense is “of the kings,” but the surname’s meaning is broader than a simple descriptive label.
History
Surnames with religious phrasing became common in Spanish-speaking regions, especially in the late medieval and early modern periods. De los Reyes is found in Spain and throughout the Spanish-speaking world, and it is also present in the Philippines through Spanish colonial-era naming practices. In modern records it often appears as a single fused surname, especially in countries where surnames are routinely written without spaces.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because the name refers to “the kings,” it is sometimes associated with Epiphany celebrations on January 6, the Feast of the Three Kings.