Mercader

Mercader is a Spanish noun meaning merchant or trader, and it is also a surname derived from the same occupational term. The word originates from the Latin mercātor, reflecting its long-standing root in commerce. In Spanish-speaking contexts, mercader functions both as a common noun and as a family name, carried by individuals across various countries.

The most notable bearer of the surname is Ramón Mercader, a Spanish communist who acted as an agent for the Soviet NKVD. He is famous for assassinating Leon Trotsky in Mexico City in 1940, using the alias Jacques Mornard. Mercader was captured and tried for murder, and his case became a significant episode in the history of espionage and Cold War-era politics.

As a surname, Mercader appears among families in several Spanish-speaking regions and can be found in genealogical and historical records. The term also survives in modern usage as a descriptor for merchants and traders in everyday Spanish, preserving its original occupational meaning.

In summary, Mercader denotes both a common noun for a merchant and a surname with historical associations, most prominently linked to the 1940 Trotsky assassination carried out by Ramón Mercader.