Ramírez
A Spanish patronymic surname meaning “son of Ramiro.”
The #28 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 554 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Ramírez is a Spanish patronymic formed with the suffix -ez, which means “son of,” so the name originally meant “son of Ramiro.” The personal name Ramiro comes from a Germanic name built from elements often interpreted as meaning “counsel” and “famous” or “renowned.” In modern use, Ramírez is one of the classic Iberian surnames that developed from a father’s given name.
History
The surname developed in medieval Spain, where patronymic family names became hereditary over time. It spread widely throughout the Spanish-speaking world and is now especially common in Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and across Latin America, as well as in the United States through Hispanic migration. The accent on the i in Spanish spelling helps indicate pronunciation.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Ramírez belongs to the large family of Spanish surnames ending in -ez, such as González, Fernández, and Martínez, all originally meaning “son of” a given name.