Surname Zepeda - Meaning and Origin
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Zepeda: What does the surname Zepeda mean?
The last name Zepeda is a Spanish surname with a variety of possible origins. Generally, the name is believed to have been derived from the city of Zafra in the province of Badajoz in Extremadura, Spain. The most common origin cited is that it comes from the Basque word “zepet,” which means “a rock wall,” and the suffix “eda” meaning “place.” Thus, Zepeda may have begun as a toponymic surname, meaning “from the place of rocks.”
Another theory suggests that the name is derived from the word “zapateado,” a type of Spanish dance. Speakers of Spanish often shorten words by dropping the final vowels, rendering the surname as Zepeda. While this theory exists, it is not as commonly accepted as the original Basque origin.
The Zepeda surname may also have originated in Mexico and has been documented in surrounding countries for centuries. It is a common name throughout Central and South America, mainly in Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. It was first documented in the US in the mid-1800s and can be found in records in various states such as California and Texas.
Regardless of the origin, the Zepeda surname is a strong and proud family name that can be traced throughout Latin American and Spanish speaking countries. It is still used throughout these regions today and carries with it a sense of community and pride.
Order DNA origin analysisZepeda: Where does the name Zepeda come from?
Zepeda is a common last name in many Latin American countries today. It is particularly prominent in Mexico where it is the 25th most common last name in the country, with over 60,000 individuals using the surname. It is also found among several other countries in Latin America, coming in at places such as #17 (Colombia), #92 (Venezuela), #164 (Argentina) and #175 (Chile).
The surname Zepeda has its origins in Basque Country, with the surname being derived from the Spanish word "cabecero" meaning "grass head" which was used as a nickname for someone who lived in a place with lots of crossed stalksie. The surname may also have originated from the historical Arab presence in Spain, derived from a personal name stemming from "zabid" meaning "great lord".
The surname remains very strong among countries in Latin America and been adopted by many immigrants who have gone to North and South America from the Basque region. The surname also appears among countries in Europe, particularly amongst Portuguese and Spanish emegrants who have since gone to regions such as the United States and Canada. Overall, the last name Zepeda is commonly found in Latin American countries, particularly Mexico, and is making its way into various countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Zepeda
The surname Zepeda is a Spanish surname derived from the personal name Jose. It has various other surnames and spellings around the world, all stemming from the same origin.
In Spain, it is commonly spelled Zepeda, though Zepedá is also an accepted variant. In Mexico, it is considered the country's ninth most common surnames, often written Zepeda, Zepedá, or Zepeda-Bautista.
In Guatemala, the name is also often found and is spelled Zepeda. Argentina also has a large population of individuals with the surname Zepeda, though they generally write it as Zepedá or Zepeda-Ardila.
The most common alternative spelling for the surname is Pepeda, found in both Spanish and Italian-speaking countries. Italians also use the cognate Pepe, which has various Deus, Dehus, and DePeo spellings. In Cuba, the form Zepeda-Celjism is most common.
In addition, the surname is sometimes shortened to Pda or Pd, and other Latin-American countries, such as Colombia and El Salvador, may write Zepeda as Zepeda-Castro or Zepeda-Ramírez.
In the United States, the surname may be written with two -s in the Spanish spelling, Zepedas. Hispanic, Native American, and African Americans with this surname may go by Zepeda, Zepedas, or the anglicized version, Zepeda. A rare form is also Zepp, most common with Irish or English families.
Famous people with the name Zepeda
- Mario Zepeda: former professional soccer player who played for clubs in Mexico, Spain, and Greece.
- Alfredo Zepeda: Mexican politician and lawyer who served on the Supreme Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
- Toribio Zepeda: former Puebla, Mexico mayor.
- Marco Zepeda: Candian politician, Former Ontario cabinet minister.
- Mexie Zepeda: former professional baseball player for the San Francisco Giants.
- Felipe Zepeda: Peruvian death metal bassist for the band Cotard Syndrome.
- Barbara Zepeda: Mexican actress, starred in many telenovelas.
- Isidro Zepeda: Argentinean soccer player who played for clubs in Holland, Germany, and Argentina.
- Henry Zepeda: Former California Assembly Dept. of Tax and Fee Administration Director.
- Abimelec Zepeda: Former Primera División de México soccer player.
- Robinson Zepeda: Colombian musician, composer and producer for Unaplauso Records.
- Vanessa Zepeda: Mexican actress starred in “De que te quiero, te quiero”.
- Diana Zepeda: Former Miss Veracruz pageant and Miss Mexico Universe contestant.
- Manuel Zepeda: Mexican actor and singer who starred in silver-screen films such as El callejón de los milagros.
- Mario Alberto Zepeda: Founder and CEO of international financial firm Zepeda Financial Advisors.