Last Names

Surnames / T

Trujillo

What is the origin of the last name Trujillo?

Spanish originLocational (a place or landscape)Rank #448 in the US

Meaning and origin

The last name Trujillo has its origin in Spain, specifically from the region of Trujillo in the province of Cáceres in Extremadura. Derived from Latin origins, Trujillo translates to "place with abundant water" or "place near a river." The surname likely emerged as a toponymic name, denoting a person from or associated with the town of Trujillo. With the expansion of the Spanish empire, Trujillo spread to various Spanish-speaking countries, including Mexico, Peru, and the Dominican Republic, among others, where it continues to be a prevalent surname.

The longer story

The last name Trujillo has its origins in the Spanish language and is primarily found in Spain and Latin America. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from a father's given name, in this case, Trujillo.

The name Trujillo is of toponymic origin, which means it comes from a place name. Trujillo is a city in the Extremadura region of western Spain. The city's name itself is derived from the Latin word "turgillum," meaning a small elevated site or "trux," meaning rough or harsh.

Trujillo is a relatively common surname in several Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Peru and the Dominican Republic. It is also found among Hispanic communities in the United States, with significant concentrations in California and Texas.

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

#448

Trujillo was the 448th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 73,664 people, about 25 in every 100,000.

Who carries it

  • White (non-Hispanic)8.4%
  • Hispanic or Latino89.1%
  • Black (non-Hispanic)0.2%
  • Asian or Pacific Islander0.3%
  • Two or more races0.3%
  • American Indian or Alaska Native1.6%

Where it is found

Countries linked to Trujillo.

Surnames like Trujillo

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.