Meléndez
A Spanish patronymic surname meaning “descendant of Melendo,” an old personal name of uncertain origin.
The #603 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 5,491 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Meléndez is a Spanish patronymic surname formed with the ending -ez, which usually means “son of” or, more broadly, “descendant of.” In this case it points back to the old personal name Melendo, an old Iberian given name of debated origin. The exact roots of Melendo are uncertain, but the surname itself is clearly built in the familiar Spanish patronymic pattern.
History
The name developed in medieval Spain and became established as a hereditary family surname. It is especially well known in the Spanish-speaking world and spread widely through Spain’s colonial and migration history to Latin America and later to the United States. The surname is common today in Hispanic communities, with a strong presence in Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the broader U.S. Hispanic population.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The accent mark in Meléndez is traditional in Spanish, but it is often dropped in records, passports, and U.S. documents as Melendez.