Quijada
A Spanish surname from a word for the jaw or jawbone, likely first used as a nickname for someone with a noticeable jaw or facial feature.
The #6,856 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 62,907 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Spanish quijada means ‘jaw’ or ‘jawbone.’ It is commonly traced back to Latin cingula or related medieval Spanish forms for the jaw area, though older surname dictionaries often treat it simply as a direct nickname surname from the common noun. In plain terms, the name probably began as a descriptive byname for someone identified by their jaw, chin, or facial build.
History
Quijada is a long-established Spanish surname and also appears as a place-name element in the Spanish-speaking world. It is found in Spain and widely across Latin America through colonial-era migration and later movement between Spanish-speaking regions. The surname remains especially recognizable in Hispanic communities, where it is still in active use.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same Spanish word quijada can also appear in place names and in idioms connected with the jaw, reinforcing its strong visual, body-based origin.
From the historical record
“Carrillo. La parte carnosa de la cara desde la mejilla hasta lo bajo de la quijada. Carrizo. Planta especie de caña que se cria entre mucha humedad i de que se usa para cubrir los techos Carro. Máquina de madera que sirve para llevar carga.”
— Diccionario de los apellidos