Vélez
A surname of Spanish origin, most often a patronymic or regional name associated with medieval Iberia.
The #638 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 5,796 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Vélez is a Spanish surname whose exact origin is usually explained in two related ways. In many cases it is taken as a patronymic form, historically linked to the medieval given name Vela or Vele, with the ending -ez signaling "son of." Another line of explanation connects it to old place- and clan-based naming in Iberia, especially in regions where Basque and Romance naming traditions overlapped.
History
The name is long established in Spain and later spread widely through Latin America. It is especially common in communities with Spanish colonial ancestry, and in the modern United States it is strongly associated with Hispanic and Latino family lines. The surname appears in several spellings and accents, with Vélez being the standard Spanish form.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The accent mark in Vélez is often dropped in English-language records, which is why many official documents list it as Velez.