Olmedo
A Spanish surname originally referring to a place associated with elm trees.
The #5,967 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 53,527 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Olmedo is a Spanish place-name surname built from olmo, meaning "elm," with the place-name suffix -edo, which often marks a grove or stand of trees. In literal terms, it points to an "elm grove" or a place where elms grew. The historical excerpts group it with other tree-based Spanish surnames and place names such as olmeda and olmo.
History
This surname is well established in Spain and is especially common as a toponymic name taken from towns or localities called Olmedo. Such names later spread to the Americas through Spanish migration. The name also appears in historical onomastic lists alongside other surnames formed from trees and vegetation.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Spanish surnames built from tree names are often tied to the landscape of the place where the family first lived rather than to an occupation.
From the historical record
“0O!'medillo. Diminutivo masculina del anterior. Olmedo. Olmeda. Olmo. Arbol mui comun en varias partes de España. Olmos. Plural del anterior"”
— Diccionario de los apellidos