Mendoza

Meaning

Derived from a Basque place name, possibly meaning 'cold mountain' or 'mountain of the cold wind'.

Etymology

From the Basque place name Mendoza, composed of mendi (mountain) and possibly related to cold or wind elements. The surname originated as a topographic designation for residents of this region.

About the Mendoza Surname

Mendoza is a topographic surname with Basque origins, referring to a mountainous region in northern Spain. The name became prominent among Spanish nobility and spread throughout the Spanish empire.

Distribution

Found throughout Spain, particularly in the Basque Country and Castile, and widespread in Spanish-speaking America.