Vásquez
A Spanish surname meaning “son of Vasco,” with Vasco originally a medieval personal name linked to the Basque people.
The #113 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 1,451 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Vásquez is a Spanish patronymic surname built from the old personal name Vasco plus the suffix -ez, which in Spanish usually means “son of.” The given name Vasco is historically associated with the Basque people and, in older usage, could function as a personal name before becoming a surname base. So the surname originally meant “son of Vasco.”
History
This is a very common Hispanic surname, especially in Spain and across Latin America. In English-language records it often appears without the accent as Vasquez, which is the most common modern spelling in the United States. The surname is found widely in the Spanish-speaking world because patronymic names of this type became hereditary over time.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because Spanish surnames are often inherited rather than changing each generation, a name that once simply meant “Vasco’s son” can now be carried by many unrelated families.
From the historical record
“Rodolfo Lobú Eulojio 2.0 Rodriguez Mateo Serrano Vitalicio J. Vasquez Juan E. Delgado Victoriana Vasquez Eliseo Cruz Virjinia T. Vasquez”
— Diccionario de los apellidos