Fernández

Fernández is a Spanish patronymic surname meaning "son of Fernando." It originates from the given name Fernando, the Spanish form of Ferdinand, with the suffix -ez indicating "son of." As with other -ez surnames, Fernández began as a way to identify a person’s ancestry and later became a fixed family name.

The surname is widespread in the Spanish-speaking world and is particularly common in Spain and across Latin America, including Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Peru. In English-speaking countries, the form without the acute accent, Fernandez, is common, though both forms refer to the same surname.

Many notable people bear Fernández, reflecting its high frequency. Notable instances include public figures in politics, sports, arts, and sciences, such as Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, former president of Argentina.

The name has also produced various toponyms and family lineages across Spain and the Americas, underscoring the long-standing historical migration and settlement patterns of Spanish-speaking populations. Overall, Fernández remains one of the most common Spanish surnames.