Marmolejo
A Spanish surname most likely taken from a place name, ultimately tied to the idea of marble or a stony place.
The #6,500 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 59,135 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Marmolejo is best understood as a Spanish habitational surname, from the town of Marmolejo in Jaén, Spain. The place-name is commonly linked with Spanish and Latin words for marble or stone, suggesting a rocky or marble-rich locality. As with many Spanish surnames, the family name would originally have identified someone who came from that place.
History
The surname spread from Spain into the Spanish-speaking world through migration and colonial-era settlement. It is found today in Spain and across Latin America, and also in the United States through later immigration. Because it is relatively uncommon, modern bearers are often concentrated in a few families with roots in the same regional line.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname matches the name of a municipality in Andalusia, which makes it a classic example of a surname formed from a hometown.
From the historical record
“dura, pero que salta con facilidad. | Marmolejo. Columna pequeña. Marojo. Planta, muérdago. Marques. Título de honor i dignidad El individuo que lo obtiene.—MARQUES. Título derivado de Markó, Marca”
— Diccionario de los apellidos