Surname Alfaro - Meaning and Origin

Unearthing My Heritage: How the iGENEA DNA Test Shaped My Understanding of My Alfaro Lineage and Identity

With curiosity towards my lineage and cultural roots, I embarked on an enlightening journey made possible by an iGENEA DNA test. Never did I imagine the profound impact it would leave on me, altering my perception about my surname, Alfaro, and redefining my sense of family and identity.

A. Alfaro

Alfaro: What does the surname Alfaro mean?

Alfaro is a Spanish surname that originated from the Basque region in Spain. It is a habitational name, derived from the town of Alfaro in La Rioja, Spain. The name Alfaro is composed of two Basque words: 'Al' which means 'all' and 'Pharao' which means 'pasture', 'grazing', or 'leaves'. Therefore, the combined meaning can be interpreted as 'place or area of grazing'. Formerly, such type of surnames were often adopted by people who lived or owned lands in or near that location. Contrarily, sometimes people who migrated from their hometown adopted the town's name as their surname to denote their origin place. Today, Alfaro is common among Spanish-speaking populations in Spain and Latin American countries. Like many surnames, it's used in naming people without having the original meaning in mind.

Alfaro: Where does the name Alfaro come from?

The last name Alfaro is of Spanish origin. It is derived from Alfaro, a town in the La Rioja region of Spain. The name itself has Arabic roots, originating from "al-fahs," meaning "the quarry." During Middle Ages, as surnames began to be used, people often took the name of their town or village as their surname. Therefore, people from Alfaro began to be known by that name.

Today, the surname Alfaro is common in several Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain and many countries in Latin America. For instance, it is widespread in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama. It can also be found in the United States among Hispanic communities. Due to the history of Spanish colonization, the surname also exists in the Philippines. However, the distribution patterns of the name are influenced by many factors including migration patterns and historical influences, hence it may be found in various other countries too.

Variations of the surname Alfaro

The surname Alfaro is of Spanish origin and it is believed to have a toponymic origin, derived from the name of a place called Alfaro located in Spain's autonomous community of La Rioja. Variants of the surname Alfaro found in different regions and cultures may have slight variations in spelling to adapt to their own language or dialects.

However, there are few known variants or alternative spellings of the surname "Alfaro." Variations on the surname could potentially include spellings like "Alfara" or "Alfarro", though these are not as common.

It is important to note that in Spanish culture, it is common to have two last names - the first from the father (apellido paterno) and the second from the mother (apellido materno). Therefore, it is also possible to encounter surnames combined with "Alfaro," such as "Alfaro Garcia" or "Gomez Alfaro."

Alfaro can also be a given name, like Alfaro Garcia, a Spanish soldier and writer. The surname Alfaro might be interconnected or related with other surnames due to common geographical origin or marital alliances among families, but ideally, it is considered as a unique entity.

Famous people with the name Alfaro

• Laura Chinchilla Miranda: A Costa Rican politician who served as the first female president of Costa Rica from 2010 to 2014.
• Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo: An Argentine short-story writer, essayist, poet, and translator who was one of the most important writers in Spanish language literature in the 20th century.
• Jorge Madrazo Cuéllar: A Mexican lawyer, academic, and public official who served as the Attorney General of Mexico from 1996 to 2000.
• Lorena Herrera: A Mexican actress, singer, and model who has appeared in several telenovelas and films.
• Luis Mateo Díez: A Spanish writer and member of the Royal Spanish Academy.
• Omar Alfaro: A Panamanian former professional boxer who competed from 1987 to 2005.
• Rafael Alfaro: A Spanish footballer who played as a forward for several clubs in the Spanish La Liga.
• Manuel José Joaquín del Corazón de Jesús Belgrano y González: An Argentine lawyer, economist, journalist, politician, diplomat, and military leader who played a key role in the Argentine War of Independence.
• Raúl Alfonsín: The first democratically elected President of Argentina after the military dictatorship in 1983.
• Ángel María Villar Llona: A Spanish retired footballer who was president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation from 1988 to 2017.
• Juan Ramón Jiménez: A Spanish poet and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1956.
• María Luisa Bombal: A Chilean author and an important figure in Latin American literature.
• Luis Rosales Camacho: A Spanish poet and literary critic who was awarded the Cervantes Prize in 1982.
• José Vasconcelos: A Mexican writer, philosopher, and politician who is one of the most important figures in Mexican literature.
• Gerardo Diego: A Spanish poet who was a member of the Generation of '27 and winner of the Cervantes Prize in 1979.
• Leopoldo Panero: A Spanish poet who was a member of the Generation of '36.
• Vicente Aleixandre: A Spanish poet and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1977.
• Gonzalo Torrente Ballester: A Spanish writer and member of the Real Academia Española.
• Vicente Rojo Lluch: A Spanish military officer and falangist politician who served as Minister of the Navy during the Francoist State.
• Francisco Ayala: A Spanish novelist and essayist who was awarded the Cervantes Prize in 1991.
• Omar Alfaro: A former professional boxer from Panama. He competed from 1987 to 2005.
• Angela Ruiz Robles: A Spanish teacher, writer, inventor, and pioneer of the e-book.
• José Coronel Urtecho: A Nicaraguan poet, translator, essayist, critic, narrator, playwright, diplomat, and historian.
• Julio Cortázar: An Argentine writer and translator, and part of the Latin American Boom with Gabriel García Márquez, Mario Vargas Llosa.
• Luis Mateo Díez: Spanish writer. He is a member of the Royal Spanish Academy.
• Rafael Alfaro: Spanish footballer. He played as a forward.
• René Alfaro: Salvadoran footballer. He played as a forward for C.D. FAS and the El Salvador national team.

Other surnames

alfaraheedAlfarhood