Trinidad
A surname taken from the Spanish/Christian name for the Holy Trinity, often originally bestowed for religious devotion or naming after a place called Trinidad.
The #2,677 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 22,914 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Trinidad comes from Spanish trinidad, meaning "Trinity," from Latin trinitas, "threefoldness" or "the Trinity." As a surname, it is usually understood as a devotional name referring to the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity. In some cases it may also be locational, referring to someone from a place named Trinidad, such as the island or a town of that name.
History
The name is common in the Spanish-speaking world and appears in records linked to Spain and Spanish America. It can function both as a religious surname and as a geographic surname, especially in places influenced by Catholic naming practices. Its wider spread reflects Spanish colonial settlement and later migration to the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
There are many places named Trinidad, including the island nation of Trinidad and the UNESCO-listed city of Trinidad in Cuba.
From the historical record
“para ella a los que pasan. Persona que se vestia con dis- fraz ridículo en funciones públicas. Divinidad india. De ella i de Brama nació la Trimurti o Trinidad india. Mayo. El quinto mes del año. Palo alto adornado de cin- tas ¡otras cosas que se pone en los pueblos durante el mes de Mayo, para diversion. Ramos que…”
— Diccionario de los apellidos