Reyes
A Spanish surname meaning “kings,” often referring to devotion to the Three Kings or a place-name tied to royal imagery.
The #60 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 942 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Reyes is the Spanish plural of rey, “king,” from Latin rex, regis. As a surname, it usually arose from the religious phrase los Reyes, especially the Three Kings (the Magi), though in some cases it may also have developed from a place-name, house sign, or other royal reference. The form is literally “kings,” not a patronymic in the usual sense.
History
The surname is common throughout the Spanish-speaking world and is especially widespread in Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and much of Latin America. In older Hispanic naming practice, religiously inspired surnames were often adopted from feast days, devotions, or local traditions, and Reyes fits that pattern well. It is also frequent in the Philippines and among Hispanic communities in the United States. The high modern frequency of the name reflects both Iberian origin and broad colonial-era spread.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because rey means “king,” Reyes is one of several surnames that sound regal but usually began as a religious or cultural reference rather than a claim to nobility.
From the historical record
“de la era cristiana, inundaron la Europa i derribaron el coloso del imperio romano. Efectivamente, nuestros anti- guos reyes no tenian mas que se nombre propio e indivi- dual, Ataulfo, Walia, Turismundo, Alarico, Tulga, Wam- ba, Witiza. Los romanos por el contrario, ademas del nombre propio, usaban de dos…”
— Diccionario de los apellidos