Jiminez History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The mountainous borders of Spain contain the origins of the prestigious surname Jiminez. 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 Jiminez family

The surname Jiminez was first found in Old Castile, where the name originated in Visigothic times. 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.