Last Names

Surnames / C

Calderon

What is the origin of the last name Calderon?

Spanish originOccupational (a trade or role)Rank #421 in the US

Meaning and origin

The last name Calderon finds its origin in the Spanish language, specifically derived from the word "caldera," meaning cauldron or boiler. This surname likely originated as a metonymic occupational surname, originally used to identify individuals involved in metal casting or blacksmithing activities during the Middle Ages. Over time, it evolved into a hereditary surname, becoming widespread in Spain and other Spanish-speaking regions.

The longer story

The last name Calderon has its origins in the Spanish language and is primarily a Spanish surname. It is believed to have originated from the Calderón family in medieval Spain. The name is derived from the Spanish word "caldera," which means "cauldron" or "boiler." This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with someone who worked with cauldrons or boilers, possibly as a profession or as a metaphorical reference to temperament or personality traits.

Calderon is a relatively common surname, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries and communities. The popularity of the name can be attributed to the historical significance and widespread use of the Calderon family name in Spain and its subsequent dispersion during the Spanish colonization of the Americas.

The surname has various spellings and variations, including Calderón, Callderon, Calderone, and Calederon. These variations may be attributed to factors such as regional dialects, phonetic transformations, and changes during the process of immigration and adaptation in different countries.

Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.

Similar spellings

#421

Calderon was the 421st most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 77,085 people, about 26 in every 100,000.

Who carries it

  • White (non-Hispanic)5.0%
  • Hispanic or Latino92.5%
  • Black (non-Hispanic)0.6%
  • Asian or Pacific Islander1.5%
  • Two or more races0.3%
  • American Indian or Alaska Native0.2%

Where it is found

Countries linked to Calderon.

Surnames like Calderon

Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.

Check the sources

For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.