Ugarte

Etymology

Ugarte is a Basque surname taken from a place name. In Basque, the name is usually explained as coming from uharte/ugarte, meaning “island” or a landform surrounded or cut off by water; by extension it can refer to a river island or similar waterside place. Surnames of this type were commonly adopted by people identified with a farmhouse, estate, or locality called Ugarte.

History

The surname is especially associated with the Basque Country and neighboring areas of northern Spain. Historical records show it in noble and local family lines, which helped it spread as a hereditary surname. It is also found in Spanish-speaking countries through later migration from Spain.

Origin

Regions

Variant spellings

Fun fact

Because Basque surnames often come from farmsteads and place names, many bearers of Ugarte are ultimately named for a specific geographic site rather than an occupation or personal trait.

Related surnames