Meaning and origin
The last name Madrid originates from the Spanish city of Madrid, which is the capital of Spain.
The longer story
The last name Madrid is derived from a place name, specifically the city of Madrid, which is the capital of Spain. As an occupational surname, Madrid originates from individuals who either lived or worked in Madrid or who were associated with the city in some way. The etymology of the surname links directly to the place.
Madrid, as a surname, can be traced back to the Middle Ages when surnames became more common in Europe. During this period, individuals began adopting surnames to distinguish themselves from others who shared their given names. The usage of a place name as an identifier was a common practice, leading to the emergence of surnames like Madrid.
The usage of the surname Madrid spread beyond Spain to other parts of the world, primarily due to migration. As people moved from one region to another, they carried their surnames along, resulting in the dispersion of the Madrid surname.
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.
#1,364
Madrid was the 1,364th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 25,854 people, about 8.4 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Madrid
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Madrid 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.