Morillo
A Spanish surname likely formed as a diminutive of Moro, originally meaning “little Moor” or “descendant of a Moor.”
The #9,355 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 88,797 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Morillo is generally explained in Spanish as a diminutive of Moro, the word for a Moor. In surname use, that would originally have had a descriptive or ethnic sense, roughly “little Moor” or “son/descendant of a Moor,” though the exact social meaning could vary by place and time. The underlying root goes back to Latin Maurus, meaning “Moor” or a person from North Africa.
History
The name is established in Spain and later appears in Spanish-speaking communities elsewhere, including the Americas. Because it is a diminutive form, it may also have begun as a nickname before becoming hereditary. Modern bearers are most common in the Spanish-speaking world and in diaspora communities.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Spanish sources also use morillo for non-name vocabulary, including a small iron support for firewood in a hearth, showing how surname forms often overlap with ordinary words.
From the historical record
“Morilla. Especie de hongo terrestre. Morillo. Diminutivo de moro. Caballete de hierro que se pone en el hogar para sostener la leña, l JOO DICCIONARIO”
— Diccionario de los apellidos