Surname Altimas - Meaning and Origin
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Altimas: What does the surname Altimas mean?
The last name Altimas is likely derived from the Latin word "altus" meaning "high," and is a common Spanish and Portuguese surname. It is generally understood to be a cognate of the English surname 'Alteman'.
The Altimas surname appears to have both Sephardic Jewish and Catholic Spanish origins. Some of the earliest bearers of the surname may have originated in the Basque region of Spain, as Altimas is a common Basque surname. In addition, many Altimas' have been found in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura, where there were concentrated Jewish populations prior to their expulsion in 1492.
Those bearing the surname generally come from a diverse set of backgrounds, including both Jews and Gentiles. For many, the surname Altimas relates to a familial understanding of faith and a desire to reach high academic, artistic, professional, and personal achievements.
Today, the Altimas surname is still mostly associated with Spain, Brazil, and Portugal. However, recent migrations to North America, Ireland, and Latin America have seen a great increase in numbers of Altimas', making this surname far more widespread.
No matter how far it may have traveled, the surname Altimas reflects a proud heritage of striving for excellence in all areas of life, and is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit.
Order DNA origin analysisAltimas: Where does the name Altimas come from?
The last name Altimas is most commonly found in Latin countries, specifically in Venezuela. This is mainly due to historical Spanish colonization of the region, as the name Altimas is a derivative of "Altamirano." Although the name is common in Venezuela, many people of the Altimas name have since spread across other Latin American countries, including the United States.
In the United States, many individuals with the last name Altimas live in states with historically high levels of Latin immigration and Spanish-speaking populations. This includes Florida, Texas, California, and New York. Reports estimate that over 4,700 people with the Altimas last name live in the US. While Venezuela remains the largest concentration of people carrying the Altimas surname, other Latin American countries also have significant populations, including Mexico, Colombia, and Peru.
Outside of Latin America, some Altimas families have settled in Spain and France. France has a small but growing Altimas population, mostly due to recent migration from Latin countries. In addition, some individuals with the Altimas surname have settled in countries such as Canada, Australia, and Germany.
Altogether, this modern-day diaspora means that those with the Altimas last name could be encountered in all corners of the world. As such, the name has remained distinct and spread far and wide.
Variations of the surname Altimas
The surname Altimas has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Altima, Altema, Altimah, Altyma, Altomah, Altymah, Altamah, Altmeh, Alteme, Alteme, Altemea, Altemeah, Altimena, and Altamir. In some cases, the surname Altimas has also been Anglicized to Altemas or Altemus.
In some instances, the surname is thought to have originated from the Latin name Alteus, which is believed to mean ‘high in stature’. In this case, variations would include Alteus, Altius, Altian, and Altyanus.
In other instances, the surname may have originated from the German phrase Alt-Maan or Alt-Mann, which means ‘elder man’ and is a reference to seasoned wisdom and age. Variations of this German spelling could include Altmaan, Altman, and Altmaer.
The surname may also have Arabic origins and is possibly derived from the Arabic word al-timah, which means ‘venerable’. The various spelling variations of the Arab root are Altima, Al-Timah, Al-Timmah, Al-Tima, and Al-Timi. It is also thought that the surname is sometimes found as Al-Tummah, which refers to a treasurer or a keeper of the treasury.
Finally, the surname could also have a Spanish origin, in which case, it is derived from the Basque phrase altea, which means ‘high ground’ or ‘hill’. In this case, the surname may be written as Altea, Althea, Alteah, Alteya, Alteyya, or Alteyyah.
Famous people with the name Altimas
- Khalid: American singer, songwriter and record producer
- Raytheon Altimas: South African actor
- Dr. Olga Orozco-Altimas: novelist and short story writer
- Alé Altimas: Mexican actress and model
- Reymar Altimas: Filipino basketball player
- Javier Altimas: Spanish cardiologist
- Leonard Altimas: American actor
- Elina Altimas: Australian singer
- Jorge Altimas: Argentinian sculptor
- Ramón Altimas: Ecuadorian painter