Duque
A Spanish surname meaning “duke,” originally a title of nobility and leadership.
The #4,407 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 38,315 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Duque comes from Spanish duque, the word for a duke or high noble. Spanish duque goes back to Latin dux, meaning “leader” or “one who leads.” As a surname, it most likely began as a nickname, a status name, or a reference to someone in a duke’s household or service rather than as a hereditary title itself.
History
The name is especially common in Spanish-speaking countries and in communities of Spanish origin. Historical sources also show it used in noble genealogies and place-linked lineages, which is typical of surnames formed from titles and social rank. In modern use, Duque is a well-established Hispanic surname, separate from the noble title itself.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same Latin root behind Duque also gave English the word “duke.”
From the historical record
“Dúo. Composicion para dos voces. Duque. Título de honor dest'nad> en Europa para signi- ficar la nobleza mas alta.—.Duque. El que esta revestido . de cierta dignidad, i tiene derecho de llevar en sus armas una corona abierta sin diadema, toda de oro, engastado el círculo de pedreria i perlas, realzado de ocho florones”
— Diccionario de los apellidos