Manzanares

Manzanares is a Spanish toponym and surname. It derives from the word manzana, meaning apple, with the suffix -ares, and historically referred to places where apple trees grew or were cultivated.

In Spain, Manzanares refers to a municipality in the province of Ciudad Real, located in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. The name is also associated with the Manzanares River, a central Spanish watercourse that flows through the Community of Madrid.

The Manzanares River has influenced local geography and culture, and nearby settlements include Manzanares el Real, a separate municipality in the Community of Madrid named for its proximity to the river.

As a surname, Manzanares is used by individuals of Spanish origin and descendants in the Spanish-speaking world. The toponym is also found in various geographic names beyond Spain, reflecting the historical spread of the language and settlement patterns in Latin America. In all uses, the term carries connotations of apple trees and the agrarian landscape from which the name originated.