The most common surnames in Latin America

González, Rodríguez, and García are some of the most common surnames in Latin America, a result of Spanish colonization, which not only brought the language and religion but also their names and surnames.

According to the site Forebears, González, the most common in countries like Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela, is of Spanish origin and a typical example of patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's name.

In this case, it means "son of Gonzalo," as the ending "-ez" indicates filiation, a common practice in Spain.

For its part, Rodríguez is the most common in countries like Colombia, Costa Rica, and Uruguay, and like the previous case, it is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Rodrigo," with its roots in Spain.

García is another one of the most common surnames in Ecuador. Of Basque origin, its exact meaning is uncertain, although it is speculated that it could derive from the Basque word "artz," which means "bear."

In many cases, surnames of Spanish origin were adopted by indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples, whether by imposition or choice. This process of mestizaje has generated a rich diversity that is now common throughout the region, noted the news portal La República.

In Spain, the five most common surnames are García, González, Fernández, Rodríguez, and López, three of which coincidentally are among the most frequent in Latin America, noted the National Statistics Institute, as cited by Wikipedia.

Of these five, the most common in Cuba are Rodríguez and González, according to Forebears.