Last Names

Surnames / O

Orozco

What is the origin of the last name Orozco?

Spanish originLocational (a place or landscape)Rank #512 in the US

Meaning and origin

The last name Orozco has its origins in Spain. It is a toponymic surname derived from the name of a town called Orozco, located in the province of Biscay in the Basque Country. The name Orozco is believed to have Basque roots, and it comes from the combination of the elements "oro" meaning "gold" and "zko," a suffix typically used in Basque surnames to indicate a place. Thus, Orozco roughly translates to "place of gold" or "golden place." Over time, the surname Orozco migrated to different parts of the Spanish-speaking world, contributing to its prevalence among diverse communities today.

The longer story

The last name Orozco has deep roots in Spanish history and culture. Here are the facts we know about this name:

Orozco is a Spanish surname that originated in the region of Asturias in northern Spain. The name is derived from the Spanish word "oro," meaning gold, and the Basque word "otz," meaning bear. The combination of these two words gives Orozco the meaning of "gold bear." It is believed that the name was originally a nickname or a toponymic surname, indicating a person who lived near a place associated with bears or gold.

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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.

#512

Orozco was the 512th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 65,904 people, about 22 in every 100,000.

Who carries it

  • White (non-Hispanic)3.4%
  • Hispanic or Latino95.8%
  • Black (non-Hispanic)0.2%
  • Asian or Pacific Islander0.4%
  • Two or more races0.1%
  • American Indian or Alaska Native0.1%

Where it is found

Countries linked to Orozco.

Surnames like Orozco

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.