Gregorio
A surname from the Latin personal name Gregorius, meaning “watchful” or “vigilant.”
The #6,494 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 59,056 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Gregorio is ultimately from the Latin name Gregorius, which came from Greek Gregórios, based on gregorein, “to be awake” or “watch.” In surname use, it usually began as a hereditary form of a given name, rather than describing a job or place. The same name spread widely through Christian Europe because of Saint Gregory and many later popes and bishops who bore it.
History
As a surname, Gregorio is found mainly in Romance-language areas, especially Spain, Italy, and Portuguese-speaking communities, where it developed from the popular male given name Gregorio. It also appears in Latin American records through Spanish and Portuguese naming traditions. The name’s visibility was reinforced by the prestige of Saint Gregory the Great and other saints of the same name.
Origin
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Fun fact
The root behind Gregorio is the same one that gave English the word “gregarious,” originally linked to being alert and socially active.
From the historical record
“entenderse por dia. Gregorio Lopez en la glosa 6 de la lei 3, tit. 22, part. 3, supone que el dia se divide en judicial i natural, i que.el dia natural es de 24:horas, i el judicial de las horas que du- ra el sol sobre el horizonte. El Diccionario de la Academia Española llama dia watural el espacio de tiempo que…”
— Diccionario de los apellidos