Munoz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arm

Etymology of Munoz

What does the name Munoz mean?

The mountainous borders of Spain contain the origins of the prestigious surname Munoz. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Spain were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father’s given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother’s given name. In this case, the surname is derived from the first-name Mummius. Thus, the surname Munoz simply signifies “son of Mummius”. The first-name Mummius is itself derived from the name of a Roman tribe whose most famous member was Mummius Achaicus, the Roman Consul who destroyed Corinth in the year 146. The “oz” or “ez” ending to the surname is indicative of its patronymic origins.

Early Origins of the Munoz family

The surname Munoz was first found in Galicia and Castile, important Christian kingdoms of medieval Spain.

The family “claim descent according to some writers, of the Roman consul Lucio Murio; according to others, from the Royal House of Scotland, and there are still those who consider him a descendant of Count Munon Rodriguez, who lived in the 750s.” 1

The family proved their nobility at various times, in the Orders of Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara, Carlos III and San Juan de Jerusalem; in the Royal Chanceries of Valladolid and Granada, and in the Royal Company of Marine Guards. 1

In Andalucia, Munoz de Loaysa rose to the nobility in the Order of Santiago in 1720 and in Rojas, Munoz of San Pedro, originally from Viniegra de Arriba (Logrono), proved his nobility in the Royal Chanceries of Valladolid and Granada and in the Order of Alcantara. Don Tomas Munoz de San Pedro y Montenegro was created Viscount of Torre Hidalgo and Baron de Campo de Aguilas in 1837. Dona Micaela Munoz de San Pedro y Flores de Lizaur was created Countess of San Miguel in 1876. 1

Munoz Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Muñoz, Munoz, Muñiz, Muniz, Muño, Muno, Muñones and many more.

Early Notables of the Munoz family

Prominent among members of the family

• Alonso Munoz (ca. 1512-1568) was a high-ranking administrator in Spain and, from November 1567 to about July 1568, Royal Ccommissioner with Luis Carrillo for the inspection of the government of New Sp…

Munoz World Ranking

In the United States, the name Munoz is the 319^th most popular surname with an estimated 84,558 people with that name. 2 However, in France, the name Munoz is ranked the 474^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,354 people with that name. 3 And in South America, the name Munoz is the 60^th popular surname with an estimated 70 people with that name. 4

 Munoz migration to West Indies+

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 5