Surname Alvarado - Meaning and Origin
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A. Alvarado
read moreAlvarado: What does the surname Alvarado mean?
The surname Alvarado is of Spanish origin and it roughly translates to "the grove" or "cleared land". The name is believed to be derived from a place in Badajoz, Spain called Alvarado. This place got its name from the Spanish words 'alvar', meaning to clear or lighten and 'ado', a suffix that indicates possession. Hence, the name could mean someone from a scrubland or a cleared place. Alvarado is a popular surname in countries like Mexico, Colombia, Philippines, and the United States owing to Spanish colonization. It is also the name of several notable people, places, and things.
Order DNA origin analysisAlvarado: Where does the name Alvarado come from?
The surname Alvarado is of Spanish origin and it originated as a habitational name from a place in Badajoz province, Spain. It translates to "guarded moat" or "blond or golden hair". As Spanish territories expanded during the Age of Exploration, the surname began to spread to regions under Spanish control, including to Latin America. Today, it is highly prevalent in Hispanic cultures worldwide. Countries where it is common include Mexico, certain regions of the United States, El Salvador, and Spain. This widespread distribution of the surname can be attributed to both historical colonization and contemporary patterns of immigration. In the United States, for example, the Alvarado surname is most concentrated in states such as California, Texas, and Florida, which boast significant Hispanic populations. In many instances, the surname has been kept alive over generations due to the strong Hispanic tradition of children adopting their father's surname.
Variations of the surname Alvarado
The Alvarado surname is of Spanish origin, specifically Castilian, and originated from a place named Alvarado in the region of Extremadura in western Spain.
Variations of this surname include Albarado, Alvorado, and Alverado, sometimes depending on the geographical location and local dialects. For example, you could find Albarado in some Latin American countries.
Additionally, in ancient scripts, the letters 'u' and 'v' were often interchanged, which may lead to other potential variations such as Alvaredo or Alvareda. Also, due to various linguistic influences, Alvarado can end with 'ez', such as Alvarez, which is a patronymic form of Alvarado, meaning 'Son of Alvaro'.
It is important to remember that Spanish surnames often include prefixes such as 'de' or 'del', suggesting 'of' or 'from'. Therefore, the surname could appear as 'De Alvarado' or 'Del Alvarado' in constructions like 'Fernando del Alvarado', meaning 'Fernando from (the town of) Alvarado'.
However, despite these variations, 'Alvarado' remains the most common spelling worldwide. It is particularly prevalent in Spain and Latin American countries due to the Spanish colonization of the Americas.
Famous people with the name Alvarado
- Danny Alvarado: A well-known American actor
- Fabricio Alvarado: A former Costa Rican presidential candidate and member of the National Restoration Party.
- Kwincy Alvarado: A respected professional soccer player
- Trini Alvarado: An American actress best known for her roles in The Frighteners and Little Women.
- Lázaro Alvarado: A Cuban athlete who earned a silver medal in the 1980 Olympic Games.
- Pedro de Alvarado: A Spanish conquistador known for his role in the Spanish conquest of Mexico and Central America.
- Roberto Alvarado: A professional footballer playing for the Mexican club Cruz Azul and the Mexico national team.
- Yadier Álvarez: A famous Cuban professional baseball pitcher.
- Luis Alvarado: A renowned Puerto Rican baseball player, best known for playing with the Boston Red Sox.
- Gloria Alvarado: A prominent social activist in the Chicano movement in California.
- Norma Alvarado: A Honduran actress known for her roles in Marca Diablo and El Vampiro Casanova.
- Ashley Alvarado: A well-respected American artist, known for her surrealistic style artworks.