Meaning and origin
The last name Feliciano has its origin in the Latin name "Feliciana," derived from the Latin word "felix," meaning "happy" or "fortunate." It subsequently evolved into the Spanish and Portuguese surnames Feliciano, denoting a person associated with happiness or good fortune. The name likely originated as a nickname or ascribed name for an individual who possessed these qualities or had an affiliation with a family or place known for its favorable circumstances.
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.
#1,662
Feliciano was the 1,662nd most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 21,667 people, about 7.0 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Feliciano is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.