Enriquez
A Spanish surname meaning “son of Enrique” or “belonging to Enrique,” with Enrique being the Spanish form of Henry.
The #837 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 7,481 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Enriquez is a Spanish patronymic surname built from the personal name Enrique plus the old patronymic ending -ez, meaning “son of” or “descended from.” Enrique itself comes from the Germanic name meaning roughly “home ruler” or “powerful ruler,” the same family as Henry. In older spelling traditions, the surname could also be written with an accent as Enríquez.
History
The form is especially associated with medieval Spain, where patronymic surnames were common among noble and non-noble families alike. Historical records include prominent bearers such as members of the House of Enríquez in Castile. The surname later spread through Spain and Spanish-speaking the Americas, where it remains common.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same -ez ending that appears in Enriquez also appears in many classic Spanish surnames such as Rodríguez, Fernández, and González.
From the historical record
“ENGL von und zu AYagrain ((©•), Angel of and in Wagrain. ENRIQUEZ (Sp.), Enrique's or of Enrique or Henry, {v. Diaz.) EPERVIER, 1' {£.), the Haivh. {v. Habicht.) ESCURES, des {£.), of the Mews or Stables, {v. Verschuur.) ESSARTS, des {£.), of the Assarts, (v. van Berkenrode.) ESTANG, de 1' {£.), of the Pool or…”
— Surnames