Moncada
A Spanish and Catalan surname originally tied to the place name Moncada, meaning a “mountain” or “hill” settlement in origin.
The #4,134 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 36,010 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Moncada is a habitational surname, taken from a place-name rather than from a personal trait or occupation. It is associated with the Spanish and Catalan place names Moncada/Moncada i Reixac, and ultimately with a Romance form built around Latin elements for “mountain” or a rocky height. In surnames, this usually means the first bearer was identified as someone who came from that place.
History
The surname spread through the Iberian Peninsula and into the wider Spanish-speaking world through migration and colonial-era movement. It is especially familiar in Spanish, Catalan, and Latin American communities. The name appears in several noble and historical lineages, which helped preserve it in records over the centuries.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Moncada is also the name of a municipality near Barcelona, which is one reason the surname is so clearly locational.