Jimenez History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The mountainous borders of Spain contain the origins of the prestigious surname Jimenez. 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. Spanish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century and the most common patronymic suffix is “ez.” 

Early Origins of the Jimenez family

The surname Jimenez was first found in Old Castile, where the name originated in Visigothictimes. One of the first records of the family was García Jiménez (c. 835-885) who was king of a part of Pamplona in the late 9th century. He was the progenitor of the the Jiménez dynasty, a medieval ruling family from the 9th century which made part of most of the royal houses and kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula.

Early History of the Jimenez family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jimenez research.

Jimenez Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Jiménez, Jimenez, Giménez, Gimenez, Siménez, Simenez, Geméniz, Gemeniz, Jeméniz, Jemeniz, Ximénez, Ximenez, Gímez, Gimez, Jimeno and many more.

Early Notables of the Jimenez family (pre 1700)

Notable bearers of the family name Jimenez Garci Jiménez, a nobleman living in Toledo in 1101; noblemen Iñigo Ximénez de Lanclares and Martín Ximénez de Alava, witnesses to a document dated 1246; Rodrigo Jiménez de Rada (1170-1247), chronicler and historian to the Royal Court of Navarre; Pedro Jiménez de Segura, Ambassador of King James the Conqueror to the court of Granada in the late 13th century; Juan Ximénez (or Jiménez) Cerdán (c. 1355-1435), a fiscal and constitutional lawyer and legal theorist who served as the Justicia Mayor of the Kingdom of Aragon from 1390 until 1423.

Jimenez Ranking

In the United States, the name Jimenez is the 277^th most popular surname with an estimated 96,993 people with that name. [1] However, in France, the name Jimenez is ranked the 1,046^thmost popular surname with an estimated 5,117 people with that name. [2]

 Jimenez migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Jimenez Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

• Francisco Jiménez, who immigrated to Chile in 1560
• María Jiménez, to Colombia in 1560
• Lorenzo Jiménez, to Mexico in 1560
• Simón Jiménez, to New Spain in 1561 with his wife Ana and children Simón and Juana
• Leonor Jiménez, to Florida in 1563

Jimenez Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Mari Jimenez, who arrived in America in 1811 [3]
• Juan Jimenez, who landed in America in 1812 [3]
• Blas Jimenez, who arrived in America in 1812 [3]
• Ana Jimenez, who landed in America in 1812 [3]
• Anton Jimenez, who arrived in America in 1812 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Jimenez (post 1700) +

• Neal Jimenez (1960-2022), American screenwriter and film director, best known for Where the River Runs Black (1986) and River’s Edge (1986)
• Jason Jimenez (b. 1976), American professional baseball player
• Ruben Jimenez Jr., American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 2008 [4]
• Rebecca Jimenez, American politician, Mayor of Guadalupe, Arizona, 2013 [4]
• Michael A. Jimenez, American politician, Representative from New York 34th District, 1952 [4]
• Maria Jimenez, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 2004, 2008 [4]
• Margarita Jimenez, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 2000 [4]
• Guillermo Jimenez, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 2012 [4]
• Elva Jimenez, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1984 [4]
• María Jiménez Gallego (1950-2023), Spanish singer, born in Triana, Seville