Espiritu
A surname drawn from the Spanish word for “spirit,” often linked in full form to the religious name Espiritu Santo (“Holy Spirit”).
The #7,502 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 69,569 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Espiritu comes from Spanish espíritu, meaning “spirit,” “breath,” or “soul,” ultimately from Latin spiritus, “breath” or “spirit.” As a surname, it is usually connected with the religious phrase Espíritu Santo, meaning “Holy Spirit,” rather than being a simple nickname. The form may also reflect devotional naming traditions in Spanish-speaking and former Spanish colonial communities.
History
The surname is found especially in the Philippines and in Spanish-influenced communities, where religious surnames became common through colonial-era naming practices. In surname lists, it often appears alongside fuller devotional forms such as Espíritu Santo. Because the historical excerpt is only an incidental mention, this entry relies mainly on established naming patterns rather than a direct dictionary explanation.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In Spanish, espíritu is the same word behind expressions for mood, courage, and the human soul, which helped make it a natural source for devotional surnames.
From the historical record
“Espinosa 378. *Espinosa 4J9. *Espiritu Santo 449. Esquirol 668. Essarts 369. Esse 140.”
— Die Personennamen, insbesondere die Familiennamen