Surname Velasco - Meaning and Origin

Discovering the Ancient Roots of the Velasco Surname through iGENEA DNA Analysis

When curiosity led me to explore my DNA through iGENEA, I was seeking more than my biological imprint. I was hunting for the origins of my surname, Velasco. The results connected me to the Visigoths in the Iberian Peninsula and traced my lineage back to the medieval Kingdom of Castile, unveiling a more comprehensive picture of my identity.

I. Velasco

Velasco: What does the surname Velasco mean?

Velasco is a Spanish surname of Basque origin. It is derived from the Basque word 'belasko' which means 'small valley' or 'ravine'. The surname was likely a toponymic one, given to individuals or families who lived near or by a small valley. Sometimes, it could also refer to people who hailed from any of several places named Velasco in Spain. The name Velasco was first found in the Basque region of Spain and from there it spread to other parts of the Spanish-speaking world following the Reconquista and colonization. Today, people with the surname Velasco can be found in countries such as Spain, Mexico, the Philippines, and many countries in South and Central America. It's popular among Sephardic Jews too. Notable figures with the surname Velasco include Colombian artist Fernando Botero Velasco and Mexican political leader José López Portillo y Pacheco Velasco.

Velasco: Where does the name Velasco come from?

The last name Velasco is most commonly found in Latin American countries today, primarily in South American countries such as Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Brazil. The name Velasco is of Spanish origin and is one of the most prominent surnames in the Hispanic world. It is also a frequent surname in the Philippines, due to Spanish colonization in the past.

In Mexico, Velasco is the third most common surname with approximately 186,000 people carrying the name as of 2015. Velasco is also a popular last name in Cuba, with thousands of people incorporating it into their heritage due to centuries of Spanish occupation. Similarly, in Chile Velasco is the fourth most common surname, with almost 140,000 Chileans bearing the name.

In other parts of Latin America, the name Velasco is common in El Salvador, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Bolivia. Bolivia in particular boasts a large population of people with Velasco as the second most common surname, with over 50,000 citizens registered under the name.

The presence of Velasco around the world is testament to the impact of Spanish colonialism globally and its lasting influence in the current day.

Variations of the surname Velasco

Variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Velasco include Belasco, Velasques, Velaskes, Velazques, Belazques, and Balazquez.

Velasco is a toponymic surname of Spanish origin, deriving from the town of Velasco in the province of Burgos in the Castile region. This surname was found mainly among people from the Basque Country, the País Vasco in Spain, and among the immigrant communities from Latin America.

The origin of Velasco dates back to ancient times when it was the name of a noble family of Spanish origin, which is likely a branch of the older nobility of Castile, from a place called Velas, which is located in the Province of Burgos in the region of Castilla y Leon.

From the root name Velasco, the Velasquez form of the name is derived. As with many Spanish surnames, the “z” was associated with the typical language changes, and can be interpreted to mean a softening of the “s”, with the addition of a richer j sound ending in the “s” to the name.

Various variants of the name Velasco can be found in Latin American countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. In some cases, the “z” is found in place of an “s”, and was found as Velazques or Belazques. In some cases, the “k” is found in place of an “s”, and this is found as Velaskes or Belasco.

Today, the name Velasco can be found in many countries around the world, with many descendants keeping the same spelling. However, there are also many variants of the name, and all of them can be traced back to the same ancestor.

Famous people with the name Velasco

• Jorge Velasco Alvarado: 16th and 20th President of Ecuador.
• Fernando Velasco: Spanish classical musician and composer.
• Rogelio Velasco: Mexican professional boxer.
• Milka Duno: Venezuelan race car driver and television host.
• Jorge Velasco: Argentine lawyer and TV producer.
• Antonio Velasco Piña: Mexican journalist and author.
• Barbara Velasco: Argentine actress, singer and dancer.
• Jaime Velasco: Spanish race car driver.
• José Velasco Mata: Mexican professional footballer.
• Ximena Velasco: Mexican actress, director and scriptwriter.
• Linton Vassell: British mixed martial artist and boxer.
• Antonio Velasco: Spanish ballet dancer.
• Francisco Velasco: Venezuelan actor.
• Alonso Velasco: Spanish professional footballer.
• Maribel Velasco: Spanish actress.
• David Velasco: Chilean filmmaker and visual artist.
• Roberto Velasco Bravo: Mexican footballer.
• Inmaculada Velasco: Spanish journalist and TV presenter.
• Ricardo Velasco: Chilean singer, songwriter and guitarist.
• Javier Velasco: Peruvian journalist, biographer and novelist.

Other surnames

VelasquesVelasquezVelastegui