Estrella
A Spanish surname from the word for “star,” likely first used as a nickname or devotional name.
The #2,618 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 22,441 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Estrella is the Spanish word for “star,” ultimately from Latin stella, “star.” As a surname, it most likely began as a nickname, a house-name, or a name inspired by the image of a star. Some 19th-century writers also linked it loosely with Spanish naming traditions for women, but the surname itself is best explained simply from the common noun.
History
The word was already well established in Spanish long before it became fixed as a hereditary surname. In the historical sources provided, it appears mainly as part of broader lists of Spanish names rather than as a fully analyzed family name, which is typical for many Iberian surnames of this type. The surname is found in Spanish-speaking regions and later spread widely through migration, including to the Americas.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same root lies behind the Spanish given name Estrella and several related literary or theatrical names in European languages.
From the historical record
“Reconocer, rejistrar la campaña. Estrella. Cualquier cuerpo celeste a excepcion del sol i la luna. Lunar con pelos blancos que tienen algunos cua- - drúpedos;en la frente. Cierto marisco. o DE LOS APELLINOS Ó1”
— Diccionario de los apellidos