Hilario
A surname from the Latin for “cheerful” or “joyful,” used as a personal name in Spanish and Portuguese before becoming a family name.
The #8,541 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 80,110 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Hilario ultimately comes from Latin hilaris, meaning “cheerful” or “merry,” and Latin Hilarius, a personal name formed from that adjective. In Spanish and Portuguese, Hilario was used first as a given name, and the surname developed from that personal name. The same root also lies behind related forms such as Hilaria and Hilarión.
History
The name spread through the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking world as a baptismal or given name associated with early Christian usage. As with many surnames in those traditions, it later became hereditary when a family name was formed from an ancestor’s personal name. It is found today especially among Hispanic and Lusophone communities, including in the Americas.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname traces back to a word that originally meant simply “cheerful,” so it is one of the more upbeat family names you can have.
From the historical record
“Hilaria,/. Eng. Lat. cheerful, 191 Hilariao, m. Fort. Lat. cheerful, 191 Hilario, m. Sp. Port. Lat. cheerful, 191 1 xxvi”
— History of Christian Names