Molina

Molina is a surname of Spanish and Italian origin. It is a toponymic name, historically linked to mills or places named for mills, and it has spread widely through Spanish-speaking communities and beyond due to migration. As a surname, it is common in the Americas and Europe, and many unrelated families may share the name without a direct connection.

Notable individuals with the surname include Mario J. Molina (1943–2020), a Mexican chemist who shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995 for work on atmospheric chemistry and ozone depletion. Yadier Molina (born 1982) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher who played in Major League Baseball, notably for the St. Louis Cardinals. Another widely recognized bearer is José Molina, a Venezuelan-born former MLB catcher who played in the majors.

Molina also appears as a place name in several regions. In Spain, Molina de Segura is a municipality in the Murcia region, and Molina de Aragón is a historic town in Guadalajara Province. La Molina is a municipality and well-known ski resort in Catalonia. The name is used in other countries as well, reflecting historical settlement and colonization patterns.

In modern usage, Molina appears in corporate and organizational names, such as Molina Healthcare, a U.S.-based health insurer, and in various localities and institutions that derive their name from historical mills or local toponyms. The surname and place name continue to be encountered across continents, reflecting a long history of linguistic and cultural diffusion.