Ventura
A surname from a word meaning “good fortune” or “luck,” often tied to the given name Bonaventura.
The #877 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 7,801 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Ventura comes from a Romance word for luck, fortune, or a fortunate event, ultimately from Latin ventura, “things about to come” or “what is to come.” In surname use, it is often connected with the devotional name Bonaventura / Bonaventure, literally “good fortune.” As a family name, it could arise either from a nickname suggesting good luck or from association with the Christian given name.
History
The name is well established in Italian and also appears in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking areas. Historical references often tie it to Bonaventura, especially through the fame of St. Bonaventure and his many later namesakes. In modern usage it is found widely in southern Europe and in diaspora communities, especially in the Americas.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same root appears in the everyday Romance word for an “adventure,” showing how closely ideas of happening, chance, and fortune are linked in these languages.
From the historical record
“Bonewendum III. (Ottweiler) aus ital. Bona- ventura. Bonne s. Band. Boos 8. Bos.”
— Die deutschen Familiennamen