San Miguel
A Spanish surname meaning “Saint Michael,” originally a name taken from a place, church, or devotion to the archangel.
The #6,204 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 56,003 Americans shares it.
Etymology
San Miguel is Spanish for “Saint Michael,” from Latin sanctus Michael. As a surname, it usually began as a place-name or reference to a church, parish, or settlement dedicated to Saint Michael rather than as a direct nickname. It could also reflect ancestral devotion to the archangel Michael, a very common figure in Spanish naming traditions.
History
Surnames of this type are especially common in Spanish-speaking regions and often spread through parish names, colonial-era migration, and later diaspora movement. In records it may appear as one word, two words, or with a preposition in older forms, depending on local spelling habits. In the United States it is found mainly among families of Hispanic or Latino background.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Many Spanish surnames that begin with San or Santa started as references to a saint’s feast day, church, or place rather than a personal nickname.