Surname Alva - Meaning and Origin

Alva: What does the surname Alva mean?

The surname Alva is an Hispanic and Portuguese surname believed to have originated from the Middle Ages. In Portugal, the Alva surname is derived from the Latin word "Alvus" meaning "riverbank" or "valley". It is believed that the name may have been given to families who were living in the close vicinity of the banks of the rivers.

There are alternative explanations of the origin of this surname. In Spain, it may have originated from derived from a Medieval personal name, Alvaro, Elvira, or even of the Old French Alve.

In some parts of Europe, the surname may have been an occupational name referring to someone who was in charge of hunting down wild boar in the forests; the word Alva is derived from the Spanish ‘ao lvaro’ meaning ‘wild boar hunt’.

In some Hispanic cultures it is believed that Alva refers to a clan or legacy bestowed among those families who were renowned for strong navy captains.

Whichever meaning is closest to the truth, the name Alva has been popular in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Cuba, and Mexico for many centuries and is still common today. It is a tribute to the family’s strength and resilience over many years, and it continues to be passed down through generations.

Alva: Where does the name Alva come from?

The last name Alva is most commonly found in Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. In Mexico, the surname is most popular in the state of Veracruz, but it can be found in other parts of the country as well. In Colombia, Alva is common in the states of San Andres, Carare, Cauca, Huila, and Meta. In Guatemala, the surname is primarily concentrated in Solola and San Marcos.

In the United States, the last name Alva is most often found among Hispanic families in the Southwest, especially in California and Texas. In addition, Alva is common in the northeast, including New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. The last name is also quite prevalent in South Florida, particularly in the Miami-Dade area.

In Europe, Alva is most commonly found in Spain, where it is widely distributed throughout the country. It is also relatively common in Portugal and other parts of Iberia. Alva is also found in some parts of Europe including Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium. Additionally, it is spelled differently in some parts of the world including Elva in certain Scandanavian countries like Norway.

Variations of the surname Alva

The surname Alva has a number of variants, spellings, and related surnames. Alva is derived from the Latin “Albus” which means "white," so some of the spelling variations are quite similar. Within Spain, Alfonso, Alvárez, and Alavés are three common variations.

Variants of the surname Alva include, but are not limited to: Alafa, Alfà, Alfai, Alfay, Alfaz, Alfá, Alfains, Alfons, Alfonso, Alvarez, Alaves, Alave, Alavi, and Alaví.

In some cases, the surname has been clipped to Alv or Al, and on occasion, Alva has been Anglicized to Alfred, Alfredo or even Alvin. In the English language examples, the “Al” prefix is sometimes dropped and the surname is rendered as Vasse, Vassey, or Vassie.

The Italian last name Alvari, which also has its roots in the Latin “Albus”, is sometimes used interchangeably with Alva. Similarly, throughout the centuries, Alva has been assimilated in some countries to similar sounding Jewish surnames in order to conceal the family’s Spanish heritage.

Alva is a surname with many variants, but the origin remains the same: The Latin “Albus”, meaning “white”.

Famous people with the name Alva

• Antonio de Alva Ixtlilxochitl: a Mexican historian and philosopher.
• Delores Alva: a Spanish news presenter.
• Martin Antonio Alva: a Mexican politician.
• Gilberto Alva: an Ecuadorian professional footballer.
• Luis Alva Castro: a Peruvian politician and former Prime Minister of Peru.
• Pasqual Maragall Alava: a Spanish politician and former President of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
• Juan Carlos Alva: a Spanish actor and comedian.
• Adonay Alva: a Peruvian Air Force major general and Combat Aviation Pilot.
• Antonio María Alva: a Peruvian writer.
• Azael Alva: a Dominican athlete and former professional baseball player.
• Rodolfo Alva: an Ecuadorian professional footballer.
• Augusto Salvador Alva: a Bolivian lawyer and politician.
• Sylvia Alva: a Mexican politician and former Governor of the State of Veracruz.
• Tomás Alva Edison: a Mexican businessman and entrepreneur.
• Andrés Alva Gutiérrez: a Mexican state governor.
• Arturo Alva: a Mexican professional footballer.
• Pete Alva: a Mexican Major League Baseball infielder.
• Rubén Alva: a Mexican politician and former Mayor of the City of Acapulco.
• César Alva: a Mexican professional footballer.
• Patricio Alva: a Peruvian footballer.

Other surnames

AlvaradoAlvardoÁlvarezÁlvarezAlvaroAlvarssonAlverioAlviraAlvord