Mancilla
A Spanish surname whose roots are usually linked to a word for a mark or stain, and by extension to something blemished or spotted.
The #4,486 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 39,042 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The available historical note links Mancilla with Spanish words around "mancha" and "manchado," suggesting a sense of a mark, stain, or blemish. In surname use, that points to a descriptive nickname for someone associated with a physical mark or with a figurative notion of imperfection. The exact path is not fully certain from the excerpt alone, so the derivation should be treated as probable rather than definitive.
History
Mancilla is a surname found in Spanish-speaking areas, and it also appears in Latin American usage today. As with many surnames built from descriptive nicknames, it likely arose independently in more than one place. The form has been preserved with little change, though spellings may vary in records.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname sits close to the Spanish word mancha, which is why old etymological notes often connect it with the idea of a stain or blemish.
From the historical record
“Mancera. Esteva del arado. Mancilla. Mancha. Compasion. Manchado. Lo que tiene manchas. Mandas. Ofertas que hacen unos a otros de darle una cosa Legados hechos por testamentos.”
— Diccionario de los apellidos