Castros

Castros is the plural form of the surname Castro and may refer to people who bear that surname. The surname originates from the Spanish and Portuguese word Castro, meaning a fortress, castle, or hill fort, and is typically toponymic, derived from places named Castro. The name is common in Spanish-speaking countries and Brazil due to Iberian migration and colonization.

In archaeology, castro denotes a type of fortified Iron Age settlement found in the Iberian Peninsula and parts of Atlantic Europe; associated with the Castro culture in Galicia and northern Portugal, typically located on hills or promontories with stone walls and circular layouts.

Notable individuals with the surname include Fidel Castro (1926–2016), Cuban revolutionary and longtime leader, and Raúl Castro (born 1931), Cuban politician and former president. The surname is widely dispersed in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America; many other Castros have been involved in politics, sports, arts, and sciences.

The term Castros may also appear in place names and family biographies; as a plural it is used mainly when referring to multiple people with the surname. The surname remains common in Castilian- and Portuguese-speaking regions and among their descendants around the world.